Mussolini's Foreign Policy

Paper Summary:

The paper examines Mussolini's achievements and shows how fascism relied hugely on the publicity and propaganda that its foreign policy generated, as opposed to actual material gains. The paper illustrates how Mussolini's foreign policy only buoyed his image in the short term since a rule based on fragile and temporary victories proved unsustainable.

From the Paper:

"Fascism in Italy was, according to Mack Smith, 'really a means for winning power by a single man'. To this end, appearance was certainly more important than reality in the short-term. Mussolini's aims in foreign policy were, according to his propaganda, to gain international prestige and aid the economy by building an empire, and along Mack-Smith's terms, this meant ameliorating his own position. Having put himself in direct charge of foreign policy from 1922 to '29, from '32 to '36, and after 1943, he showed the emphasis he placed upon it: in his own words, 'I want to make Italy great, respected and feared' (1925)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Denis Mack-Smith, Mussolini (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1994).

More papers on Mussolini's Foreign Policy:

• Essay # 89180 : "Italy's Role in the International System 1918-1945"
• Essay # 137692 : "Canadian Foreign Policy in World War II: An Analysis"
• Essay # 74182 : "Western Foreign Policy & Global Terror"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: