Mussolini — the Rise and Fall of the First Fascist (In-person)
Spring (4-8 hours) | Registration opens 3/6/2025 12:00 AM EST
THIS IS THE IN-PERSON REGISTRATION OPTION FOR THIS COURSE.
While certainly not the first dictator in history, Benito Mussolini was the first to embrace a philosophy that exalts the nation state with a centralized autocratic government that put severe controls on the economy and imposed societal regimentation.
Mussolini rose to power in the 1920s and set the standard for a series of fascist dictators in Europe during the interwar period. Hitler was a great admirer and emulated many of Mussolini’s practices. We will look at his rise to power, his attempts to renew the glory of the Roman empire during his 22 years in power, and his violent demise at the end of World War II. With lectures, slides, and videos, we will examine Mussolini’s life and legacy and how he set a new standard for abuse of power by a populist leader.
This course will be presented in a lecture format.
Robert Rougvie
Bob Rougvie is a graduate of Suffolk University in Boston with a BA in History. He has had a long career in the wood products industry in New England. Prior to retirement, he was president of a machinery distribution corporation for 23 years. He is an avid reader of history, with a particular interest in the period prior to and during WWII. He has led several Osher classes with an emphasis on early 20th century European history. Bob is also a Vietnam veteran.