To What Extent Did Mussolini Achieve the Aims of His Economic Policy?

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Table of Contents

Section 1: Identification and Evaluation of Sources …………………………………………………………………………..2

Section 2: Investigation …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....4

Section 3: Reflection………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8

Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10

Section 1: Identification and Evaluation of Sources

The question this investigation will be exploring is ‘To what extent did Mussolini achieve the aims of his economic policy?’ This question won’t be focusing on Mussolini’s overall economic policies, but rather, making an evaluative judgement into whether he achieved them or not. The sources that have been selected for this investigation are; Source 1, the textbook “Mussolini and Italy”, and the poster, Source 2, below. Both sources are relevant to this investigation as the textbook goes into great detail with regards to explaining Mussolini’s economic policies and whether he achieved them, whilst offering historiography to consider in the exploration. The poster is also relevant to one of Mussolini’s key economic policies: the Battle for Grain, thus offering a perspective to what Mussolini wished to achieve with this policy and providing a primary source to the nature of economic policy during this period, relevant to this investigation.

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Source 1 (Gros, 1932)

Mussolini and Italy, written by Edward Townley published in Oxford in 2002^[1], has an entire Chapter dedicated to Fascist Italy’s economy, providing figures, historiography, and analysis to the success of Mussolini’s economic policy, such that the content of the source is perfectly relevant to this investigation. The origins of this source can be attributed to its author, Edward Townley, a reputable Historical author, having written several other books and textbooks centralising on European History, which adds value to his writing. The textbook also has origins as part of the Heinemann Advanced History Series with 30 textbooks in said series, clearly showing the value of this source being that the information must be of high quality being in a well-renowned series. In terms of perspectives, this source’s origin also benefits as a value due to an objective author, who provides facts as well as multiple opinions, valuable to the investigation in assessing Mussolini’s economic policy with multiple perspectives. The content of the source also reveals well corroborated information due to the references made to different Historians and key persons to the matter, referencing quotes from them to provide varying information in conjunction with the facts also provided, as the source is Secondary, making it valuable in the investigation for assessing multiple viewpoints afforded to the fact the content is all in retrospect, therefore more analysis has been carried out after Mussolini’s policies, than a primary source, which only accounts for what’s happening at the time, making this source valuable as it’s been afforded hindsight.

In terms of limitations, the source’s purpose is for Sixth Form students which means that the depth of knowledge is somewhat limited, as it’s providing base level information for AS and A Level students, who are at a lesser degree of knowledge than Historians of the subject of Mussolini’s economic policies, such that the content will most likely be superficial to the economic policies that this investigation is focusing on.

The Victory of grain poster created by Mario Gros in 1932^[2] has origins as a primary source of propaganda as it was created during Mussolini’s time in power and whilst he was still creating economic policies, thus is valuable in analysing the nature of Mussolini’s economic campaign at its time of implementation, specifically with regards to The Battle for Grain. Mario Gros^[3], the creator of this poster was a well-renowned artist at the time who created many posters to advertise companies such as Fiat and La Gazzetta Del Popolo, therefore Gros’ work is of a valid origin and is valuable in assessing the propaganda work of the time since he was a well-regarded artist. Furthermore, since the work was commissioned by the government, it isn’t an artistic interpretation of the event, accounting for any discrepancy, but rather a valuable source for Mussolini’s intentions through its purpose. This poster thus in its content provides valuable evidence about the Battle for Grain during the period when it was occurring. This source also allows commentary via its valuable purpose, since it outlines features of Mussolini’s regime, such that we can see a method of achieving Mussolini’s economic policy, through propaganda.

This source, however, is limited in its content as it only highlights one specific aspect of Mussolini’s economic policy, the Battle for Grain, making it limited to my investigation. Consequently, the origins are also limited as the source isn’t useful in stating whether economic policies were achieved, but rather examines what this policy was, therefore, providing only one perspective, not making the source directly correlating to the question.

Section 2: Investigation

As Il Duce, it was necessary for Mussolini to increase his control over the Italian people through all forms of governmental domestic policy, one of the most important being his economic policy. Mussolini and his Fascist government held central aims when formulating their policy, with the achievement of these aims varying. Mussolini’s key economic policies which were successful were the Battle for Grain which aimed to make Italy self-sufficient in wheat production, Mussolini’s policies to combat the Great Depression in Italy with an aim to lessen the effects on the people, and the Revaluation of the Lira which aimed to reduce the Lira’s inflation. Whereas the policy of Autarky which aimed to make Italy self-sufficient and on a war footing, Land Reclamation which aimed to redistribute land, and the Corporate State which aimed to alleviate class divide and provide both workers and employers with a voice, which were all, to an extent, failures. Whilst there were some successes when Mussolini’s economic policies didn’t achieve their aims they were extreme failures, therefore, the negatives of Mussolini not achieving his economic policy aims somewhat outweighs the positives.