What is Fascism

Fascism is one of the most often misused and widely misunderstood political terms. Publicists of both the left and right use the term fascist not to describe but to discredit and smear adversaries. Fascism is often inaccurately used as a synonym for tyranny, militarism, Nazism, racism, or capitalism. During the first 13 years of Fascist rule in Italy, the regime and its leader (Duce), Benito Mussolini, were widely admired in the US and other countries. They earned praise, for example, for resolutely uprooting mafia criminality. Attitudes in the US changed only after Italy claimed Ethiopia in 193536 and issued two laws in October 1935 and in April 1936 to end slavery in Ethiopia as well as to emancipate slaves in the country (Encyclopedia Aethiopica, p. 681). During its brief colonial presence of Ethiopia, Italy freed 420, 000 slaves. The image of Mussolini and Fascism that prevails today is largely the product of World War II propaganda. For more information visit: official website of the political part