Italy - Mark Robson

This second edition has been thoroughly updated to take account of key developments in the historiography of Italy during this period. Placing later events in context through a survey of the emergence of the modern Italian state and the liberal monarchy, the author provides a comprehensive account of the rise of fascism and Mussolini's regime until its fall in 1945. Expanded coverage is given to the attraction of fascism for different sectors of Italian society, the fascist political system and an analysis of the regime's social policies including its attitude towards the role of women, culture and propaganda. The text concludes by drawing relevant comparisons between more recent developments in Italy and the period 1870-1945.