Mussolini secured elite backing by imposing austerity policies

Evidence

Th is story also reveals how British liberalism and Italian Fascism fostered similar environments for austerity to thrive. Th ese similarities went beyond the shared sacrifi ces of British and Italian citizens, or the fact that both countries’ agendas of austerity were rationalized by similar economic theories. It is also evident that the original formation of Italy’s Fascist dictatorship required the support of the Italian liberal elite as well as the support of the Anglo- American fi nancial establishment, both of which Mussolini was able to secure by implementing— oft en with force— austerity policies. — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, 68

Categorization

• XREF: Directly extends the reader’s core thesis that austerity is a class weapon — connects to earlier chapters establishing austerity’s function across ideological regimes. — connects to: Mussolini’s austerity policies won applause from international experts — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism: An Intervention, 14; Liberal economists endorsed Mussolini to enforce austerity on Italy’s workers — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 656; Austerity served as proof of creditworthiness to international finance for the Fascist regime — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 1435 (+4 more)
• QUESTION: Worth chasing: the precise mechanism by which austerity policies attracted Anglo-American financial investment — rates, fiscal guarantees, timing.

Broader Connections

• Liberal economists endorsed Mussolini to enforce austerity on Italy’s workers #corroborates (0.90) — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, 656
• Austerity served as proof of creditworthiness to international finance for the Fascist regime #expands (0.88) — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, 1435
• Mussolini’s austerity policies won applause from international experts #corroborates (0.85) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 14
• Mainstream economists applauded Mussolini’s austerity as sound fiscal discipline. #corroborates (0.85) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 14
• Liberal economists supported fascist austerity despite opposing dictatorship #corroborates (0.85) — Gary Mongiovi, Austerity Is an Antidemocratic Strategy…, 107
• Austerity needed strong government, which Fascism supplied #expands (0.82) — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, 1329