Mussolini on the Corporate State

[Dave Monroe]

Mussolini on the Corporate State
by Chip Berlet

A Google(tm) search on January 12, 2005 turned up some
5,000 hits on the following quote:

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism
because it is the merger of state and corporate
power." -- Benito Mussolini 

It is generally attrributed to an article written by
Mussolini in the 1932 Enciclopedia Italiana with the
assistance of Giovanni Gentile, the editor. 

The quote, however, does not appear in the
Enciclopedia Italiana in the original Italian.

It does not appear in the official English translation
of that article:

Benito Mussolini, 1935, "The Doctrine of Fascism,"
Firenze: Vallecchi Editore.

And it does not appear in the longer treatment of the
subject by Mussolini in:

Benito Mussolini, 1935, "Fascism: Doctrine and
Institutions," Rome: 'Ardita' Publishers. 

Where the quote comes from remains a mystery, and
while it is possible Mussolini said it someplace at
some time, a number of researchers have been unable to
find it after months of research.

(If you have a source for the quote based on an actual
original document that you copy and mail us, please
let us know, and you will receive a free 3-year
subscription to the Public Eye magazine)

It is unlikely that Mussolini ever made this statement
because it contradicts most of the other writing he
did on the subject of corporatism and corporations.
When Mussolini wrote about corporatism, he was not
writing about modern commercial corporations. He was
writing about a form of vertical syndicalist
corporatism based on early guilds. The article on
Wikipedia on Corporatism explains this rather well.

Here are some typical Mussolini quotes from original
documents:

The Fascist conception of the State is all-embracing;
outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist,
much less have value. Thus understood, Fascism is
totalitarian, and the Fascist State--a synthesis and a
unit inclusive of all values--interprets, develops,
and potentiates the whole life of a people. (p. 14)

Fascism recognises the real needs which gave rise to
socialism and trade-unionism, giving them due weight
in the guild or corporative system in which diverent
interests are coordinated and harmonised in the unity
of the State. (p.15)

Yet if anyone cares to read over the now crumbling
minutes giving an account of the meetings at which the
Italian Fasci di Combattimento were founded, he will
find not a doctrine but a series of pointers
 (p. 23)

"It may be objected that this program implies a return
to the guilds (corporazioni). No matter!... I
therefore hope this assembly will accept the economic
claims advanced by national syndicalism." (p. 24)

Fascism is definitely and absolutely opposed to the
doctrines of liberalism, both in the political and
economic sphere. (p. 32)

The Fascist State lays claim to rule in the economic
field no less than in others; it makes its action felt
throughout the length and breadth of the country by
means of its corporate, social, and educational
institutions, and all the political, economic, and
spiritual forces of the nation, organised in their
respective associations, circulate within the State.
(p. 41).

Benito Mussolini, 1935, The Doctrine of Fascism,
Firenze: Vallecchi Editore. 

The Labour Charter (Promulgated by the Grand Council
ofr Fascism on April 21, 1927)—(published in the
Gazzetta Ufficiale, April 3, 1927) [sic] (p. 133)

The Corporate State and its Organization (p. 133)

The corporate State considers that private enterprise
in the sphere of production is the most effective and
usefu [sic] [typo-should be: useful] instrument in the
interest of the nation. In view of the fact that
private organisation of production is a function of
national concern, the organiser of the enterprise is
responsible to the State for the direction given to
production.

State intervention in economic production arises only
when private initiative is lacking or insufficient, or
when the political interests of the State are
involved. This intervention may take the form of
control, assistance or direct management. (pp.
135-136)

Benito Mussolini, 1935, Fascism: Doctrine and
Institutions, Rome: 'Ardita' Publishers. 

http://www.publiceye.org/fascist/corporatism.html

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