NEW BOOKS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 65781, 28 February 1925, Page 3

NEW BOOKS.

“FROM SOCIALISM TO FASCISM”

Ivanoe Bonomi. (Martin Hopkinson and Co., London.)

Signor Bonomi is the Socialist leader who was driven from power by the rise of Facsism. In the book—admirably translated by John Murray —he examines with severe and apparently impartial philosophical analysis the causes that gave the advantage to Fascism under Mussolini; describes the policy of that movement; tries to explain the hold it has on the people; and —taking a long shot (certainly with very careful aim) —predicts its ultimate failure. It is a very comprehensive treatise well worth the atention of the political student in these times of crumbling political theories, labour unrest, and economic uncertainty. These things caused the post-war discontent in Italy, which found vent in the Socialist movement, and through the weakness of the Government of the day got possession of the factories of Turin. When that movement, left to itself, by the Government of Gioliti, collapsed of its inherent weakness. D’Annunzio’s extravagances gave the. discontent of the' disgruntled ex-ser-vice youth of Italy another vent. There followed a period of violent confusion out of which Mussolini and the Fascists achieved power. It has been favoured by the prevailing Governments of week-kneed coalitions: its immediate opportunity was the general strike proclaimed by the discomfited Socialists; it got its strong hold of power by representing authority combined with national traditions; it will fall because of the inevitable necessity of using coercive force, which must be “impossible before the resistless presure of social forces.” Prophecy is always dangerous, for it takes no count—and cannot in the nature of things—of human possibilities under unexpected condiItions. Apart from this the book of Signor Bonomi can be recommended as a valuable contribution to contemporary history.