3.6 Mussolini: The man and the image

Many historians have argued that Mussolini’s regime should be seen as very much a personal dictatorship rather than a fascist one, given his decisive role in the transformation of fascism from a grassroots movement to an elite-backed governing party. Throughout the course of the 1920s that personal focus became ever more evident, epitomised by his new self-appointed title, ‘Il Duce’. It was also marked by an attempt to promote a cult of Mussolini, which portrayed him as Italy’s saviour. This was centred on a vision of Mussolini as a unique and charismatic figure, blessed with superior skills, both cultural and political.

At the heart of this campaign was the medium of film, as Mussolini early recognised the potential of this format as a political tool. As a result the Italian public was bombarded with images of their leader on a level unmatched by any other contemporary state. These ranged from a recreation of the March on Rome which idealised fascist efforts to more personalised images of Mussolini in heroic stance, from wrestling lion cubs to helping with the harvest. Whether the Italian public was taken in by this propaganda is highly debatable, and it could be argued that the sheer blatancy of the attempt did much to undermine it. However, in developing the use of media in this way, and in placing so much emphasis on the man behind the message, Mussolini undoubtedly helped create a template for modern dictatorship.