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What 4 main reasons made it hard to access the living standards fully?
- Propaganda claims and unreliable official statistics
- The term "living standards" may include levels of "well-being" making it hard to measure
- Comparing to other countries can be misleading as Italy more fragile
- There were almost never "normal" economic conditions in Mussolini's Italy
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From 1926, what two major developments adversely affected living standards?
- The changed context of industrial relations : the Palazzio Vidoni Pact of 1925 and the Syndical Law of 1926
- The impact of Mussolini's Battle for the Lira
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Between 1927 and 1931, how many separate wage cuts were there?
6
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What were the 3 main sections of society that were effected?
- Agricultural workers
- Industrial workers
- Middle class/white collared workers
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What did the effects of the Great Depression lead for state intervention to do?
Hold down prices and wages
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What 3 main negative areas were effected in relation to the economy?
- Hours of the week reduced
- Unemployment went from 300,000 to 1 million
- Wage cuts
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Due to low standards how did the public react?
Few strikes or expressions of protest partly because of the impact of its policies in welfare and leisure
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What would a negative view of the Fascist regime give in connection to living standards and propaganda?
- Stress the decline in living standards
- The extent to which fascist propaganda concealed how bad things real were
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What would a positive view of the Fascist regime give in relation to for example welfare?
- Stress the success of State intervention in the economy - maintaining economic stability
- Would point to the success of the Corporate State in maintaining popular support - by its policies on welfare, leisure and social cohesion
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What were the 3 main roles of welfare organisations?
- Partly political - gaining consent for the regime
- Partly social and economic - compensate for wage cuts and low living standards
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What were the main party welfare organisations called?
EOAs
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Where did money from welfare schemes come from?
- Forced loans imposed on workers and employes
- From banks and local businesses
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What 2 types of insurance did the regime pressure employers into giving their employees?
- Accident insurance
- Sickness insurance
- (in pay settlements)
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What two main positive effects did welfare have on the regime?
- Defused the dangers of unrest that might have arisen because of depressed living standards
- Helped gain acceptance for the fascist regime
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Why were new organisations for leisure activities created?
- to provide facilities
- encourage participation
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What two key aims were the policy for leisure actives of the people created?
- Social control - brainwash loyalty and break TU influence
- Foster a sense of well-being - compensate low pay and living standards
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What kind of activities did the OND provide?
- Local theatres
- Drama societies
- Music societies
- Mobile cinemas
- Libraries
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Why was the OND important for social welfare?
- Gave benefits such as
- cheap rail tickets
- discounts in shops
- subsidised holidays and excursions
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What was one important reason for the success of the OND?
Did not overly emphasise ideology and propaganda but concentrated on involvement and enjoyment
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Evaluation of the Corporate State
What are 3 main reasons for why it can be seen as a complete failure?
- No real power over the economy
- Not an economic policy at all just a confidence trick
- Sound policies never implemented properly
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On the other hand, What are 3 main reasons for why the Corporate State can be seen as a success?
- Admired and imitated abroad
- The original aim, to prevent strikes and industrial unrest, was achieved
- Politically, Mussolini won the backing of big businesses and strengthened his regime
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