Causes for the Growth of Fascism in Italy

Causes for the Growth of Fascism in Italy

Italy attended the Paris Peace Conference with great expectations.  The secret Treaty of London which was signed in 1915 with the Allies gave Italy great hope.  At Paris, Orlando presented the demands of Italy.  But the US President Woodrow Wilson rejected the Treaty of London. Italian claims over territories on the Adriatic Sea, some Turkish provinces and Albania in the Balkan were all turned down. Thus Italy gained nothing in the Paris Peace Conference.  'Italy had won the war but had lost peace'.

Italy was disappointed. The representatives of Italy were forced to boycott the conference. They felt that the Allies had purposely deceived Italy. This discontentment created a feeling of revolt among the middle class youth.  They decided to form an organization and unite in order to avenge their national humiliation and treachery.

Economic Condition

During the war, Italy was forced to spend huge amount more than her national income. Unemployment prevailed. People believed that government was responsible for such a situation. They wanted n alternative government.  The  rise of the Fascist Party was also a result of above dissatisfaction.

Spread of Socialism

The unemployment problem, poverty and inflation helped the spread of Socialism. The believers in Marxism had a political party called Social Democrats of Italy. In the 1919 election they gained 156 seats out of 574.  This party helped a lot for the rise and development of Fascism in Italy.