PAPER 2 - ITALY AND MUSSOLINI

Italy and Mussolini is one of the suggested areas for a closer study in:

Topic 3: The rise and rule of single-party states
The 20th century produced many single-party states. The origins, ideology, form of government, organization, nature and impact of these should be studied in this topic. Questions will be set on major themes. Some of these will require knowledge of two regions.

Major themes

Origins of single-party states
- conditions which produce single-party states
- emergence of leader: aims, ideology, support

Establishment of single-party states
- methods: force, legal
- form of government, ideology (left and right wing)
- totalitarianism, treatment of opposition

Rule of single-party states
- political, economic and social policies
- role of education, the arts, the media, propaganda
- status of women, treatment of minorities and religious groups

Regional and global impact
- foreign policy as a means of maintaining the regime
- impact of regime outside the state
- as a factor in the Cold War

Examples of material for detailed study
Candidates should study a selection from the material listed below, ensuring that two regions are included. Questions set on specific, named rulers and states will be confined to those listed below. Alternative examples can be studied and used in answers to open-ended questions.

Italy - Benito Mussolini
 
You can find information in:

= Old Morris
= New Morris
= Newest Morris
= Traynor

Old Morris - The unification of Italy pages 61-77 + Fascism in Italy pages 270-285
New Morris - Italy, 1870-1943 pages 260-290
Newest Morris - Italy, 1870-1943 pages 253-284

Traynor - Mussolini's Italy 1922-1943 pages 142-170

 
Some previous Exam Questions:
1. Account for the rise to power of one of the following: Castro; Mussolini; Nasser. (M03)
2. In what way, and for what reasons, did the aims and policies of two or more right wing rulers of single-party states differ? (M03)
3. Compare and contrast the rise to power of two rulers of single-party states. (N03)
4. Examine critically the successes and failures of either Castro or Mussolini, as a leader of a single-party state. (N03)
5. Analyse the methods used by one single-party state ruler in his successful bid for power. (M04)
6. Examine the global impact of one ruler of a single-party state. (M04)
7. Analyse the methods used and the conditions which helped in the rise to power of one ruler of a single-party state. (M05)
8. Evaluate the successes and failures of one ruler of a single-party state. (M05)
9. Account for the ineffectiveness of internal opposition to two rulers of single-party states. (N05)
10. How successful was either Lenin (1917-1924) or Mussolini (1922-1943) in solving the problems he faced? (N05)
11. Identify the aims of educational and youth policies in two single-party states. And evaluate the extent to which they were achieved. (N05)
12. In what ways, and with what results, was propaganda used by one ruler of a single-party state? (M06)
13. In what ways, and for what reasons, were culture and education controlled by rulers of single-party states? (N06)