Foreign observers endorsed fascism through its claimed practical achievements

Evidence

A clear reference to fascist propaganda extolling the regime’s achievements in the field of public works, etc. In England in the ‘thirties, approval for fascist Italy often took the form of “at least Mussolini has got the trains to run on time”, etc. — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 2353

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s toolkit theme of hegemony and common sense — how regime legitimacy is built on mundane efficacy claims. — connects to: Liberal economist Einaudi celebrated fascism as restoring investor confidence — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 201; Fascist and liberal economists both endorsed rule by apolitical experts — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 1171; British diplomats rationalized Fascist electoral violence as typical Italian behavior — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 1726

Related

• Regime technical efficiency can win admiration abroad for authoritarian states. (similarity 0.84)
• British diplomats rationalized Fascist electoral violence as typical Italian behavior (similarity 0.81)
• Liberal economist Einaudi celebrated fascism as restoring investor confidence (similarity 0.80)
• Fascist and liberal economists both endorsed rule by apolitical experts (similarity 0.80)