Summary - IB History SL/HL - Paper 1: Move towards a global war (foreign policy of Mussolini)
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IB History SL/HL
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The summary details the main goals, procedures, and consequences of Mussolini's foreign policy. The document is a summary for IB history students preparing for their Paper 1 exam.
What is fascism?
● Common ideology in Europe during the interwar years. It was mainly provoked by the impact
of WWI.
● It was anti-communist, anti-liberal, and anti-pacifist.
● It grew in popularity in Italy in response to economic, social, and political problems
Aims of Mussolini’s foreign policy:
● Unlike Hitler, Mussolini did not have a clear foreign political conception before coming to
power.
● He wanted to consolidate his domestic support
● Increase national pride
● Revise the post-war settlement (terra irredenta)
● Dominate the Balkans and the Mediterranean
○ The majority of Italian imports came from the sea through Gibraltar = Italy relied
greatly on the sea, thus, Mussolini did not want any other power to dominate it
● Build an Empire, and extend to Africa (spazio vitale)
● Foster the spread of Fascism in other countries as well
What factors had an impact on Mussolini’s foreign policy?
● Fascism:
○ What is fascism?
■ Common ideology in Europe during the interwar years. It was mainly
provoked by the impact of WWI.
■ It was anti-communist, anti-liberal, and anti-pacifist.
■ It grew in popularity in Italy in response to economic, social, and political
problems
○ Glorification of war, the pursuit of imperialism, moving away from international
cooperation
● Impact of domestic economic issues:
○ Affected by the Great Depression
○ Italy did not have much raw materials
○ Social imperialism:
■ Mussolini wanted to garner domestic support by distracting people’s attention
from the economic hardships by focusing on foreign political successes.
○ The economy was tuned to Mussolini’s foreign political aims
● Changing diplomatic alignments:
○ It was considered a strong diplomatic partner among France, Britain, and Germany
○ Italy suggested the Four Power Pact
■ It would make smaller states have less say in diplomacy
■ Accepted by other powers, but it had little significance in effect
○ Opposed Nazi Germany initially:
■ Stresa Front in 1934 following Hitler’s failed attempt at an Anschluss
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