Aspect Mussolini (Italy, Mao Zedong (China, 1949- Comparison/Contrast

19221943) 1976)
Economic Fascist Corporate Communist Contrast: Mussolini
Ideology State: Retained Collectivization: Abolished kept a mixed
capitalism but placed private property; implemented economy, while Mao
industries under state centralized planning. abolished capitalism
supervision. entirely.
Economic Public Works & Land Reforms & Both used state-led
Reforms Autarky: Built Collectivization: economic projects,
infrastructure (e.g., Redistributed land, merged but Mao’s
roads, Battle for farms into communes, Great collectivization led to
Land), sought Leap Forward (195862). famine.
selfsufficiency.
Economic High Debt & Military Great Leap Forward Both had economic
Failures Overextension: Heavy Famine: Poor planning and disasters due to
military spending hurt forced collectivization led overambitious policies.
economy; industrial to 30-45 million deaths.
growth was slow.
Political One-Party One-Party Both created authoritarian one-
System Fascist State: Communist State: Mao party states that centralized
Mussolini eliminated opposition and power.
abolished ruled through the Chinese
democracy and Communist Party (CCP).
ruled through
decrees.
Relationship Allied with Eliminated Contrast:
with Elites Church & Traditional Elites: Mussolini compromised with
Monarchy: Landowners, elites, while
Lateran Treaty intellectuals, and Mao removed them entirely.
(1929) secured former KMT
Catholic Church officials were purged.
support. Retained
King Victor
Emmanuel III.
Use of Blackshirts & Red Guards & Both used paramilitary
Force – OVRA Secret PLA: Used purges, labor groups and secret police to
Opponents Police: Used camps, and mass suppress dissent.
violence, arrests, violence (e.g., Anti-
and intimidation Rightist
against socialists Campaign, Cultural
and communists. Revolution).
Use of Force Foreign Military Internal Purges & Contrast: Mussolini
– Expansion Expansion: Repression: Targeted focused on military
Invaded Ethiopia intellectuals and CCP expansion, Mao
(1935-36), officials, less focus on focused on domestic
 intervened in foreign conquest. purges.
Spain, and joined
WWII.
Propaganda Cult of Il Duce Cult of Mao: "Little Both used media control
Methods (The Leader): Red Book," and leader
Controlled revolutionary art, glorification but Mao's
newspapers, radio,
film (e.g., Fascist
cinema, mass rallies, and influence was more
Nurembergstyle controlled media. widespread.
rallies).
Youth Fascist Youth Red Guards: Both indoctrinated
Indoctrination Organizations: Encouraged youth to youth, but Mao’s Red
Balilla and attack Guards became a
Avanguardisti "counterrevolutionaries violent force.
trained children in " during the Cultural
military discipline. Revolution.
Longevity Lost Power in 1943: Ruled Until Death Mao remained in
of Rule Overthrown after (1976): Lost influence power longer, while
Italy's failures in after the Cultural Mussolini was removed
WWII; executed in Revolution but retained before the end of
1945. power. WWII.
Foreign Expansionist & Isolationist at First, Contrast: Mussolini was
Policy Militaristic: Sought Later Active: Korean more aggressive in
empire (Ethiopia, War, Sino-Soviet Split, foreign policy, Mao
Albania), allied with rapprochement with the initially focused
Hitler. US in 1972.

Mussolini Mao
Ideology and Fascist Corporate State - retained Communist collectivization - abolished
System capitalism with state supervision, capitalism, state-controlled economy,
favored business elites. Marxist-Leninist principles.
Economic Public works programs (Pontine Land redistribution, collectivization
Reforms Marshes, highways), autarky (self- (communes), Great Leap Forward
sufficiency policies). industrialization.
Economic High debt from military spending, war Great Leap Forward famine (30-45
Failures efforts in Ethiopia, Spain, WWII million deaths) due to mismanagement
strained economy. and unrealistic targets.
Social Policy Promoted nationalism, family values, Aimed for classless society, attacked
discouraged women in workforce, traditions (banned Confucianism,
promoted traditional roles. Buddhism), Cultural Revolution.
Use of Force Used Blackshirts and OVRA to Used Red Guards and PLA to suppress
suppress opposition. opposition, public denunciations, forced
confessions.
Expansion Military expansion in Ethiopia, Spain, Focused on internal purges, involved in
WWII. Korean War, Sino-Indian War.
Treatment of Encouraged traditional gender roles, Women encouraged to work but had
Women and limited rights for minorities, later limited political power; suppressed
Minorities adopted anti-Semitic policies. traditional culture and minorities.
Propaganda Cult of Il Duce, controlled media, Cult of Mao, 'Little Red Book', controlled
nationalist propaganda. media, revolutionary propaganda.
Youth Fascist youth organizations (Balilla, Red Guards terrorized 'counter-
Indoctrinatio Avanguardisti) trained young people revolutionaries', widespread violence.
n in military discipline.
Political One-party fascist state, ruled by One-party communist state, eliminated
System decree, suppressed opposition. political opposition.
Relationship Allied with elites (Catholic Church, Eliminated elites (landlords,
with Elites monarchy) to maintain support intellectuals, KMT officials) through
(Lateran Treaty). purges.
Longevity of Deposed in 1943, executed in 1945 Ruled until death in 1976, longest-lasting
Rule after failed rule and loss in WWII. 20th-century authoritarian leader.