What is Fascism?

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17607, 24 October 1931, Page 13

What is Fascism?

“WHAT is Fascism and Why?” ..tv;- edited by Tomaso Sijlani,- is an authoritative book. Originally published.in Italy a year ago, an A brought up to dato for the prosept,translation, it sets out Fascist polity,and achievement in a series of over 3Q articles, each the "work of thp, ,xosponsible. ‘ \i . . . In general the method of the book is to pass from the general to tjic particular. Thus the ‘first article is'an exposition of the principles of .fascism by Signor Itocco, the Minister of Justice, and the last is a survey of Italian industries. Sometiincs. however, this method is rather happily varied by arranging for; a general account of the work of a,department of State to fye followed immediately ifrb a detailed study pf some particular branch froni , t/ie pen of the Undersecretary in charge... So, ..for example, Signor Acerbo, the Minister of Agriculture, writes of “Agriculture under the Fascist regime” and deals? generally with tho policy of agrarian propaganda, research, and education and its practical results. His article is followed by an account of tho Government’s land reclamation schemes? by Signor Sevpipri, whp. Juimimsteip the 'enterprises undertaken pnder the comprehensive Act . ,oi 192$ which, characteristically... enough, ljears tho Ducc’s name. ' tV _ The prominence given to agricultural work is significant. So also is. tho stress npn-insti ucjional aspects' .or primary education. It i#

explained that the Balilla arose out of the Gentile reforms which separated physical education from the general war); of the schools, huf the seppe of die, organisation has now gone fur. boyond the t nimbi g of the body. “The institution helps to form the minds of the yo.ung people who may bo called' upon later to till public'.offices, by integrating the school curriculum, by means of .steady propaganda, ■the Institution of subsidiary schools, after-schogj-hour institutes, reading rooms, circulating libraries, and the organisation of frequent meetings to visit museums and public monuments'. The programme in this domain extends fro,m instructive walks to lectures, from collective games to school matches, from the educative theatre, with pieces written expressly for the Balilla, to cinemas with patriotic, scientific, and historical projoctipng. Tho National Balilla Institution is. resolved that no singlo commune of Italy shall lack a half and a theatre.” -V *'• v. The passage will illustrate tne Fascist conception of itself as the sole channel for all the streams of Italian witional life.. ~, , ~,.s ,f \