(This entry continues the subject
of Italian fascism, naturally flowing into the subject of German fascism
before we can proceed with the more general aspects of totalitarianism.)
The following two multi-part
entries, ostensibly written about two infamous individuals, Mussolini and
Hitler, are, in fact, the embryonic beginnings of an involved study of
how and why each of them was called forth by their respective societies to lead
them, according to the leader principle, at that particular day and age.
For this reason, these two entries rightfully belong in the Collective section.
At this stage, both of these
entries are typical stock items and ought not to be expected too much from. I
am going to return to them whenever I have more time on my hands, to deal with
them with proper diligence. Ironically, “dealing with them with proper
diligence” means writing a book about them. But for now a few posted entries
will have to do.
Whether this intent on my part is
feasible or not at all, time will tell. But it is one of my essential points
that it is most imprudent to discard an important political event of the past
merely on the grounds of its stigma. The present situation in Europe, and to
some extent in the United States, supports my view that whatever is swept under
the rug in tribute to political correctness, is sure to come back with a
vengeance to haunt us, all the more viciously for the reason of being dismissed
with such ease and carelessness.
In order to understand the
objective reason behind a particular leader coming to power in a nation, we
must understand the nation which had brought him forth. But quite often our
understanding of this nation is inadequate, in which case we resort to the
opposite: by studying the leader we have a good chance to learn more
about the nation.
The following material, set in
teal font, is stock for a future involved study of Italy’s most important
leader in the twentieth century and perhaps in all her history, one Benito
Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (1883-1945). Another key figure to understand
Italy of that era is the Italian humanistic [sic!] philosopher and theoretical
champion of fascism and totalitarianism Giovanni Gentile (1875-1944) who
is presented in my philosophical section Significant Others. It
must be noted that in putting together Mussolini’s stock biography, I am by and
large keeping the exact language of the source intact, as studying what is said about a man in such cases may be no less important than any
objective facts of his biography.
To be continued…
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