June 25,
2025
Fascism and Culture
It is often
said that fascism was merely the result of ignorance.
At the time of its rise in Italy, the dominant cultural current was neo-Idealism.
One part of it, led by Croce, was (moderately) opposed to fascism, while the
other, led by Gentile, supported it. (Gentile even joined the Italian Social
Republic and was killed by partisans.)
Only later did culture in Italy change radically, leading to a long period of
left-wing hegemony.