Why was Benito Mussolini an effective leader?
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1 ANSWER

Ibrahim Khan, Babson College Class of 2020
Answered May 9, 2016
Hope this helps
The term effective leader has different meaning for different people. Benito Mussolini in many ways can be described as an effective leader. He is after all still referred in history as the father of fascism.
The only way one can successfully judge a man's success is by closely evaluating the platform they were given by their parents and what they were able to achieve on top of that. Mussolini was born in Dovia di Predappio, a small town in the province of Forlì in Romagna on 29 July 1883. His father Alessandro Mussolini was a blacksmith and a socialist, while his mother Rosa Mussolini was a devoutly Catholic schoolteacher. His father instilled in him a passion for socialist politics and a defiance against authority. Though he was expelled from several schools for bullying and defying school authorities, he eventually obtained a teaching certificate in 1901 and, for a brief time, worked as a schoolmaster.
His father's political views greatly influenced him but the ideas of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, the sociologist Vilfredo Pareto, and the syndicalist Georges Sorel were the one's that greatly influenced him. Mussolini also later credited the Marxist Charles Péguy and the syndicalist Hubert Lagardelle as some of his influences. He created a Neo-Machavillian approach toward politics.
In 1902, Benito Mussolini moved to Switzerland to promote socialism, and quickly gained a reputation for his magnetism and remarkable rhetorical talents. While engaging in political demonstrations, he caught the attention of Swiss authorities and was eventually expelled from the country. In 1904, Mussolini returned to Italy and continued promoting a socialist agenda. He was briefly imprisoned and, upon release, became editor of the organization's newspaper, Avanti, which gave him a larger megaphone and expanded his influence.
Mussolini initially condemned Italy's entry into World War I, but soon saw the war as an opportunity for his country to become a great power. His change in attitude broke ties with fellow socialists, however, and he was expelled from the socialist party.
After the war, Mussolini resumed his political activities, criticizing the Italian government for weakness at the Treaty of Versailles. He organized several right-wing groups into a single force and, in March 1919, formed the Fascist Party—the movement proclaimed opposition to social class discrimination and supported nationalist sentiments, hoping to raise Italy to levels of its great Roman past.
Capitalizing on public discontent, Mussolini organized a para-military unit known as the "Black Shirts," who terrorized political opponents and helped increase Fascist influence. By 1922, as Italy slipped into political chaos, Mussolini declared that only he could restore order and was given the authority. He gradually dismantled all democratic institutions, and by 1925, had made himself dictator, taking the title "Il Duce". To his credit, Mussolini carried out an extensive public works program and reduced unemployment, making him very popular with the people. He stayed in power until his death in April, 1945. He would've stayed in power for even longer if it hadn't involved himself in the World War II. However, a megalomaniac like himself couldn't resist the urge to be a key player in the global political scenario of that time.
( A leader is someone who can convince the people to believe in him and in his vision. This is exactly what he was able to do. His rise to power is unparalleled in history. He to many historians was the Napolean of his time.
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