What Mussolini's rise and fall reveals about modern authoritarianism
Summary
This episode examines the rise and fall of Mussolini’s fascist regime to identify lessons for combating modern authoritarianism. Panelists discuss how fascist movements exploit post-war instability and elite complicity to seize power, often through spectacle and myth rather than force. They analyze the cracks in the regime, including military defeat and everyday resistance, that ultimately led to its collapse. The discussion concludes with the symbolic execution of Mussolini and the challenges of transitioning to democracy without a full societal reckoning.
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