Mussolini

This readable and witty biography focuses both on Mussolini¿s personality and on the way he exercised power, and regards these two issues as closely linked.  It:

• Considers him as a man with all the talents needed to attain power but few of those needed to exercise it well in the long run.  Indeed, he had absolutely the wrong personality for a successful political (and a fortiori military) leader. He was a dynamic but insecure man, who appeared dictatorial but always had to share power with the military and bureaucratic Establishment, and greatly resented the fact.
• Reflects on the nature of government and on how things work in modern societies, and on how far politics and individuals make a difference.
• Argues that Mussolini¿s appeal rested on embodying robust masculine virtues ¿ courage, responsibility, patriotism ¿ that are now distinctly old-fashioned, but still have very widespread support.  That is why his admirers still regard him as the ¿Last Man in Europe¿

On the 60th anniversary of Mussolini¿s death, Martin Clark¿s portrayal of the Fascist dictator¿s leadership bears a striking resemblance to the rule of contemporary politicians, obsessed by media spin and short-term triumphs at home and abroad. Clark argues that Mussolini pioneered a ¿mediacracy¿ ¿ rule by journalists attempting to ensure that all social institutions, and even the private sphere, conform to government dictates. The Fascist stress on political correctness may have been quite different in subject-matter from today¿s, but was similar in its attempts to make certain extremely common things unsayable and even unthinkable.

Martin Clark is former Reader in Politics at the University of Edinburgh. He is author of many books on Italian history, including Longman titles Modern Italy1871-1995 and The Italian Risorgimento.

Paul Corner, Journal of Modern Italian Studies 2006

Benito Mussolini was a brilliant Socialist journalist who in 1914 declared war, put himself at the head if the anti-Socialist movement in Italy, manoeuvred himself into power by 1933 and ruled the country until overthrown in 1943. He was a dynamic but insecure personality, who appeared dictatorial but always had to share power with the military and bureaucratic establishment. Mussolini founded an Empire in Africa and tried to 'make Italians' in his own heroic, war like image, but in fact failed to even control his own family In June 1940, when France fell, he could not resist joining in the Second World War on the German side, although Italy was not equipped for serious fighting. His rule ended in Military disaster and personal humiliation.

This new biography focuses both on Mussolini's personality and on the way he exercised power, and regards these two issues as closely linked. It sees him as a man with all the talents needed to attain power but few of those needed to exercise it well. This book primarily focuses on how Mussolini had absolutely the wrong personality for a successful political leader.

This new biography focuses both on Mussolini's personality and on the way he excercised power, and regards these two issues as closely linked. It sees him as a man with all the talents needed to attain power but few of those needed to excercise it well. This book primarily focuses on how Mussolini had absolutely the wrong personality for a successful political leader.

This book examines how Mussolini was a brilliant Socialist journalist who in 1914 declared war, put himself at the head if the anti-Socialist movement in Italy, manoeuvred himself into power by 1933 and ruled the country until overthrown in 1943. He was a dynaimc but insecure personality, who appeared dictatorial but always had to share power with the military and bereaucratic establishment. In June 1940, when France fell, he could not resist joining in the Second World War on the German side, although Italy was not equipped for serious fighting. His rule ended in Military disaster and personal humiliation.

M Clark is a retired academic, former reader in Politics at the University of Edinburgh (he taught Gordon Brown what he knows about European History!). He is also the author of Modern Italy 1871-1995, ( Longman 1985) and other books on Italian history including Antonio Gramsci and Revolution, (Yale 1977)and The Italian Risorgimento, (Longman 1998).

• Written in a witty and readable style
• Discussions on Mussolini's obsession and pioneering use of the media - he set up the first 'mediacracy' - rule by journalists and 'spin'
• 2004 marks the 60th anniversary of Mussolini's death so there will be general interest in the subject
• Interesting personality - he invented 'health fascism' - he was the first jogging politician

Glossary and Abbreviations

Introduction  Mussolini: Personality and Power

1 Early Years and the Great War 1883¿1918

2 Manoeuvres to Power 1918¿22

3 Precarious Tenure 1922¿4

4 Making the Fascist State 1925¿9

5 Targets and ¿Battles¿ 1925¿35

6 At the Height of his Power?  The Regime and the Duce 1929¿35

7 The Duce Abroad: Propaganda, Peacemaking and War 1922¿36

8 Electing a New People 1936¿40

9 The Approach of War 1936¿40

10 The Duce at War 1940¿3

11 The Years of Captivity 1943¿5

Conclusion: Debates Among Historians

Chronology

Index