As the first mass movement of the radical right to assume power in the wake of World War I, Italian Fascism became the model and inspiration for violent anti-democratic and anti-socialist forces that swept Europe between 1919 and 1945. In this volume Marla S. Stone provides an essential introduction to the rise and fall of Benito Mussolini's Fascist dictatorship. Drawing on the most recent historical scholarship, Stone explores the multifaceted nature of Fascist rule, which drew strength not only from its terror apparatus but also from popular support for its social programs. More than 35 primary sources, including speeches, decrees, memoirs, telegrams, songs, and artwork, demonstrate how Fascism shaped all aspects of Italian life. More than a dozen Italian documents are translated into English for the first time. Photographs, maps, document headnotes, a chronology, questions for consideration, and a selected bibliography provide pedagogical support.
