Liberalism in the Face of Fascism: The Problem of Civil Society and Mass Society

Authors

  • Elio d'Auria Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo

Keywords:

Liberalism, Fascism, Mass society, Civil society, Italy

Abstract

This essay reflects on the difficulties of liberalism to adapt to the new political rythms opened by the First World War's aftermath. Special emphasis is made on the limitations of liberalism to open to the masses, as well as its incapacity to organize mass-based parties, as it was the case of revolutionary, Catholic and fascist parties. Within this theoretical framework, we will review the historical evolution of concepts such as civil society and mass society, and study its reception in the Italian political thought, especially during the early years of Fascism. Finally, this essay highlights the murder of Giacomo Matteoti (1924) and the divisions of antifascist parties in achieving political change in Italy. The victory of fascism came to symbolize the swan song of the liberal and democratic society that had led the
life of the Kingdom of Italy from its unification.

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Issue

No. 15 (2012): Cercles. A Journal of Cultural History 15.

Section

Temes

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