why was socialism feared so much in italy in 1922? and how did it contribute to mussolini becoming PM in 1922?

Answer 1

The Revolution in Russia, all the killing that happened because of it, and seeing the way that Russia was going led to a lot of fear. Yes, I know Russia was Communist, but that's Socialism given a military...

Also, as many do now, people were thinking that Socialism could be a good thing. Meanwhile, the intelligent people could look and see the terrible problems that Socialism creates.

So, seeing how a nation had already fallen to it and the way that some thought it was good, many became scared of the spread of Socialism.

Mussolini and the other Fascists in other countries used Socialism as a fear that they could work with to get themselves power. They would play up how bad things would be without a strong leader to stop the Socialists.

Answer 2

The Italians had serious territorial ambitions on its northern frontier that could only be achieved by entering the First World War, at the expense of Austria (with which Italy had actually formed a defensive alliance in 1882). To Prime Minister Antonio Salandra and his foreign minister, there was no doubting the strength of public feeling on this issue, and decided to enter the war which almost all parties – the nationalists, leaders of the Catholic Church, Salandra, Benito Mussolini - had agreed with or cooperated with.

The only group that was openly critical of Italy’s conduct of war were the socialists. They were not feared, but despised for being ‘unpatriotic’.

Later on as fascism developed over the course of 4 years (1919-1922), it had adopted ideas that became the strengths of the ideology. By 1922 the main elements in fascism’s appeal were its emphasis on Mussolini’s leadership, its stress on patriotism (contrasting to the liberal failures to protect Italian interests) and its vigorous and effective anti-socialism.

These ideas attracted the Italian majority. Recognizing the popularity and potential usefulness of fascism in government matters, King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister on 31 October 1922.

Answer 3

socialism is about freedom for all, but some pish minds don,t see it that way, still today around in the world