The Corporate State

Question 1

1925

Answer 1

Palazzo Vidoni Pact asserts Italian industry will only negotiate with fascist trade unions

Question 2

1926

Answer 2

Rocco Law bans strikes and lockouts

Question 3

July 1926

Answer 3

Ministry of Corporations set up; meant to be a mixed union of workers and employers who would discuss and implement national economic planning for interests of both

Question 4

Corporate State

Answer 4

Construction of Corporate State grew out of Rocco Law in 1926 that failed to balance interests of fascist syndicates and Italian industry

Question 5

1927

Answer 5

Charter of Labour set out which asserts that workers’ rights will be established trough mixed corporations

Question 6

Giuseppe Bottai

Answer 6

‘Charter of Labour’ drawn up, promised that mixed corporations would organise Italy’s economy and guarantee workers’ rights in employment, social insurance and welfare; charter was a programme of intent and never followed through

Question 7

1928

Answer 7

Fascist unions split up, weakening their power

Question 8

Edmondo Rossoni

Answer 8

Head of fascist syndicates, Edmondo Rossoni was dismissed; syndicates split into six, representing six areas of economy

Question 9

1930

Answer 9

National Council of Corporations founded; consultative body made of employer and worker organisations

Question 10

July 1930

Answer 10

National Council of Corporations established; seven large corporations representing main parties of the economy

Question 11

1934

Answer 11

22 corporations of major economic sectors of Italy established; issues some regulations on prices but has to be approved by Mussolini

Question 12

Corporations

Answer 12

Corporations could fix prices, settle industrial disputes, regulate apprenticeships, advise government.
Highly complex on paper, but just propaganda in reality
Corporations were councils where workers and employers met under PNF guidance, employers represented by employers but workers were represented by fascists approved by Mussolini, the Minister of Corporations

Question 13

Parliament

Answer 13

Parliament replaced by Chamber of Fasces and Corporations; mainly powerless body that does very little; important decisions still made by Mussolini

Question 14

corporate state

Answer 14

Corporate state provided jobs for loyal fascists, was excellent propaganda and was used to prove that Mussolini had overcome problems of class conflict and constructed ‘this way’ between capitalism and communism which harmonised relations. But the practical economic policy was subservient to a facade constructing Mussolini as a leader of international renown who could achieve the impossible, not implementing a workable economic base for Italy.

Question 15

was corporate state successful

Answer 15

Corporate State produced vast, complex and expensive bureaucracy that never achieved its aims
Industrial employers and Mussolini never serious about developing representative system; all decisions made by Mussolini