Mussolini and the Eclipse of Italian Fascism: From Dictatorship to Populism

by Richard J.B. Bosworth

An incisive account of how Mussolini pioneered populism in reaction to Hitler’s rise—and thereby reinforced his role as a model for later authoritarian leaders

On the tenth anniversary of his rise to power in 1932, Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) seemed to many the “good dictator.” He was the first totalitarian and the first fascist in modern Europe. But a year later Hitler’s entrance onto the political stage signaled a German takeover of the fascist ideology.
 
In this definitive account, eminent historian R.J.B. Bosworth charts Mussolini’s leadership in reaction to Hitler. Bosworth shows how Italy’s decline in ideological pre-eminence, as well as in military and diplomatic power, led Mussolini to pursue a more populist approach: angry and bellicose words at home, violent aggression abroad, and a more extreme emphasis on charisma. In his embittered efforts to bolster an increasingly hollow and ruthless regime, it was Mussolini, rather than Hitler, who offered the model for all subsequent authoritarians.

Genres: Italy, World War II, History

352 pages, Hardcover

Published March 23, 2021

About the author

A leading expert on modern Italian history, Richard James Boon Bosworth is Emeritus Fellow at Jesus College, Oxford University. He earned a BA and an Hons. MA at the University of Sydney and a PhD at St John’s College, Cambridge. He taught at the University of Sydney from 1969 to 1986, the University of Western Australia from 1987 to 2011 and Reading University from 2007-2011. Bosworth has also been a Visiting Fellow at St. John’s College and Clare Hall, Cambridge, Balliol and All Souls Colleges in Oxford, as well as a Visiting Professor at Trento University in Italy.

Reviews

[TrentD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bosworth takes the modern stances of Fascism and explains their historical reasoning. He does this critically despite other firm, nonacademic beliefs that Fascism is only a word to describe leaders who have fallen out of favor. People looking for detailed explanations about the evolution of Italian politics and leadership from 1900-1940 will certainly enjoy the dissection Bosworth has provided with excruciating research. The reason for 4, instead of 5, stars is due to frequent name dropping and the assumption that I can easily speak and remember Italian words. This made it difficult to grasp their meaning in the book without constantly looking them up. Overall, this is a solid take on the history and modern significance on Fascism.