Benito Mussolini and the Art of Tyranny: Fascist Italy’s Infamous Dictator

The art of tyranny involves aspirants taking and keeping uninhibited, arbitrary power over others.Benito Mussolini is among the world’s most recognizable tyrants with his scowl, jutting jaw, bald dome, booming voice, chopping fists, squat body, and wide stance.He founded the Fascist movement dedicated to transforming Italy’s liberal democracy into a regime that mingled authoritarianism, nationalism, populism, corporatism, vigilantism, and imperialism with himself the all-powerful ‘Duce’ or leader. By threatening to march on Rome with his Blackshirt militia, Mussolini bullied King Victor Emmanuel III into naming him prime minister.He ruled Italy from 30 October 1922 until 25 July 1943, achieving supreme power just thirteen months after taking power.With an overwhelming legislative majority, he issued decrees and had laws approved that granted him dictatorial powers, outlawed all political parties except for his Fascist Party, and jailed or drove into exile most of his opponents.Yet Muss