This is the first time I have heard the story of Giacomo Matteoti. Let us honor him today and remember what he and others like him have taught us. Be courageous. Be upright. Reject cynicism and never apologize for caring about the community over profits.
Excellent article. No truer words have been said than "When strongmen feel they are in danger, they become more, not less, aggressive."
The same holds true for nation states. When national leaders fear they are in jeopardy of losing power, they go on the offensive, perhaps leading to war. The aggressiveness has been used countless times in anticipation of rallying a non-committal or disinterested population behind a common cause. Fear and insecurity, real or imagined, is a great way to keep the rabble in line.
One way to understand the reason they can't admit a mistake and have no capacity for empathy with others is that they're psychologically very fragile...their good feeling about themselves depends on a grandiose sense of superiority. Admitting a mistake or showing compassion is equal to weakness in their way of thinking. They're called "strongmen" but, in my opinion, they're not strong at all. They're easily threatened by autonomous others and need to be the only person in the room who matters. That's what I think, Jan.
Well explained..."They're easily threatened by autonomous others and need to be the only person in the room who mayters."--insightful said. Thank you Madeline. Empathy is their key deficit? Their minds are metal.
Yes, they can't give attention because they need to get attention constantly. When they don't get the attention they need they fall into a narcissistic fit of rage, an annihilating fury which terrifies other people. They only care about whether you can service them, function the way they need you to function, do what they need at every given moment, otherwise they banish you or attempt to destroy you. Tyrants are all the same in this regard. :(
“One way to understand the reason they [fascists?] can't admit a mistake . . . “ I suggest calling fascists fascist. Otherwise, thank you for clarifying that “strongmen [are] not strong at all.” Hence, my objection to the euphemism .
My objection as well, Robert. I tend to use the word, Tyrant, when describing someone who uses fear, force, and intimidation to achieve the aim of being the only person who matters. I'm not sure I understand the point you're making between "fascists" and "fascist." An adjective rather than a noun?
“My objection as well…” I’m not sure what objection your referring to. As to fascists vs fascist, w/o going back and reading the original text, the latter likely referred to singular and used as an adjetive while the former was meant to be plural and adjective as well. BTW, my heartfelt thank you for your thoughtful contributions to Lucid. I try not to miss any. I usually if not always agree.
If I failed to clarify or answer your question, please let me know.
Wow...thank you, Robert! I'm happy to hear everything that you're thinking about as well. :)
In your first reply to me I thought you objected to the euphemism, "strongmen," just as I did. That's why I said that that was "my objection as well." Did I get that wrong?
""I, and I alone, assume political, moral, and historical responsibility for all that has happened…If Fascism [MAGA] has been a criminal association, I am the head of that criminal association….""
"...those who assured him that Mussolini [tfg] would "settle down" and become a more conventional politician— underestimated the danger. "
I didn't know the extent to which American oil interests were tied into Mussolini and certainly didn't know about Giacomo Matteoti. Looking forward to your new series of essays!
Having lived in Provincia di Varese, I very much feel the presence of these patriots of long ago. My great grandparents immigrated from the Monferrato in Piemonte before the rise of fascism, but those relatives that stayed behind suffered greatly. Many became partigiani, and their stories and fates are part of my family history. Thank you for sharing the story of Matteotti, a true patriot and one of thousands who fought and died against fascism.
Thank you so much, Ruth, for your expose on Giacomo Matteotti (1885-1924) the “anti-Fascist politician and democratic hero” of whom I was not aware – this is such an important endeavor of yours for our overall knowledge and ability to make important connections!
I was aware of the democratic and socialist movement, Fasci Siciliani (Sicilian Workers Leagues), in Sicily from 1889 -1894 through my own genealogical and social science interests. My great-grandfather Pietro Monaco was involved in it when he was young man before having a family when my grandfather Giuseppe Monaco was born in Sicily in 1898. Pietro eventually became a Border Patrol Officer in Sicily and worked for the government/military (during a no war/conflict era I believe) for the rest of his life while his son immigrated to the Detroit area with some distant relatives as a young man. Giuseppe was a very non-political immigrant (with very refined tastes) who preferred operas/music over visual arts and who somehow escaped any of the World Wars unlike my other immigrant English (French Huguenot – Irish literary/poetic ancestries) Grandfather also born in 1898)!
However, I was always interested of the role women played in the Fasci Siciliani movement which I read at the time was astounding but is repeatedly disregarded in history. What I read, was that women in Sicily were on the frontlines of strikes, protests, rallies, organizational meetings – although women did not have the right to vote at that time in history, they were among the most passionate of the Fasci members! The largest and toughest group of women in Sicily were women from Albania who settled in the town of Fascio of Piana degli Albanesi near Palermo, Sicily, and who generally practiced the Byzantine religion which was very surprising to me. And at the time I was learning this, an undergraduate art student friend tried to convince me it was due to the “Byzantine Art” which did something to the women’s abilities/skills as the art depictions usually involved frontal viewed & stable “icons” who had unforgettable stronger together messages of excellence embedded in them within their Fasci democracy organizing skills/pursuits. Interesting!
Ruth, after reading your essay, I cannot imagine how chilling it must have felt for you to have heard Donald Trump utter the words “I alone can fix it.”
Thank you for your tribute to Giacomo Matteoti, a hero in the truest sense. Yes, let’s honor this man who demonstrated at the cost of his life, true heroism.
In the meantime we in the US have to do everything in our power to ensure Trump does not get in on 2024. Because this is what awaits.
You know what scares me most. Not so much Trump but the confluence of forces that made MAGA possible. I recently read Strongmen as well as Malcolm Nance and others. All of these great scholars and public servants point to a very public (sometimes surreptitious) hate-filled narcissism that lead to MAGA and Ukraine and other terrors. How can we, average citizens engage and protect our institutions from dangerous rhetorical demagogues who thrill the crowds so handily?
I agree with Ted; be sure to vote and get out the vote. I would add, help inform others of the dire fascist threat, warning that 2024 offers us a stark choice; between a fascist dictatorship and democracy. Support the FL boycott and spreading it to TX, 2 fascist states.
I always remember what Fiona Hill wrote in “There’s Nothing for you Here” — get involved in the community. Volunteer, join a sports league. Interact with your neighbours.
I just re-read Lesson 13 from On Tyranny. This is so true! It is important to get out of the comfort zone and make new connections with people you don’t know. Perhaps this world wide rise in authoritarianism is more closely connected to social media and invasive spy tech (see Lesson 14) than we are comfortable admitting.
Talk to cashiers, and everyone we meet, daily. Its our best chance to influence voting. ? Obliquely, side by side chats. (I visualize talking to a teen on a car ride,,, if that makes sense :) my only thought tonight!
Excellent, thanks. Must watch PBS interview last night (Monday 14th) Judy Woodruffs interview with Judge Michael Luttig. Trump and company have no choice other than win the election. Georgia has raised the charge count to over 90. Those who have called the warnings of the past 8 years hysterics and overreaction, need to wake up. This is no longer a threat, this is American Fascism. The list of people warning of this, is nothing less than extraordinary. This will not “go away.” We have an active, strong, vibrant Fascist Party in America........... On a related side note: Steven Miller and America First, filed yesterday to sue Target for intentionally sinking stock prices....... by selling “Pride” material. The charges included knowing the boycott from conservatives would sink the stock before the action taken. We are looking at an insane time ahead of us. Be well folks.
Art: Thanks for the info. omg about miller or not ... I never understood why companies that didn't stand up for voting rights under assault and then Target caved to the autocrats and are now being attacked by them (chaos?). McCarthy warned the phone companies not to work with the 1/6 committee (he sounded like a dictator loyalist). They won't get the business that they used to get and the "government of criminals" can take it from the owners to make $$ of them like putin has done.
I agree and would prefer not to but this won't go away. Here's the link (from tiny url) to the PBS interview with Luttig. https://tinyurl.com/4jjk46f7
Thanks for posting the link. There must be a name for Miller, I just can’t think of one that describes my level of disgust toward him. I’m an old street kid from Beantown, at a loss of words when it comes to that puke. If I accidentally ran him over, I’d back up.
Thank you for reminding us of some in Congress who I would refer to as fascists: “Matt Gaetz, MTG. Lorene Boebert, Ted Cruz. and a slew of others.” We need to begin naming names and ask our Congress persons to refer—those who aided and abetted DJT’s efforts to overthrow the 2020 election—to DOJ for prosecution for sedition. The 5 you mentioned seem good candidates.
Absolutely. As well as Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Lindsay Graham, and all MAGA Repub's who voted against impeachment once or even twice. All of them enabled "The Big Lie" which led to the violent insurrection and other attempts to overthrow the legitimate election of Joe Biden.
Thank you so very much of this post Prof R. The heroes of democracy and freedom against fascism must ever be acknowledged and honored. Because, as wise Prof Timothy Snyder says in Lesson 19 of
"On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" the stakes too important.
Lesson 19. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.
Thank you for reminding us of Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny. . . “ it should be required reading. We need to learn the requisite elements of fascism to be able to ID fascists. To fight the enemy we must first accurately identify them.
Thank you so very much of this post Prof R. The heroes of democracy and freedom against fascism must ever be acknowledged and honored. Because, as wise Prof Timothy Snyder says in Lesson 19 of
"On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" the stakes too important.
Lesson 19. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.
Thank you so very much of this post Prof R. The heroes of democracy and freedom against fascism must ever be acknowledged and honored. Because, as wise Prof Timothy Snyder says in Lesson 19 of
"On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" the stakes too important.
Lesson 19. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.
Great essay Ruth, thank you, what a Brave man ! Racism brings out the heroes in the community who are brave enough to stand up to lethal power , let’s hope it won’t get to that point in the USA
Such important history. I never learned much about Italian history, other than Mussolini was an axis leader and dictator in WW2. But rarely do these acts of resistance get the attention they deserve. In addition to the other excellent comments here, I was particularly chilled by the expectation by others that Mussolini would become a more typical, less volatile person. Sounds like the Mitch McConnell strategy of the Senate. Looking forward to the book next year--and there should be a Young Adult adaptation. We need to have more stories of resistance--including those that were overlooked. Giacomo Matteotti made me think of Michael Moore.--another person who saw the signs early. Thank you for this.
In America Special Counsel Jack Smith, Fani Willis, and Adam Schiff are the Matteotti's. Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, 3%'ers, Attomwaffen, and Blackwater are America's blackshirts. In Russia, its Alexy Nalvany, Masha Gessen, Gary Kasporov, and Alexander Litevenchenko are the Matteotti's and Wagner mercenaries are the Black ( or Brown) shirts.
This is the first time I have heard the story of Giacomo Matteoti. Let us honor him today and remember what he and others like him have taught us. Be courageous. Be upright. Reject cynicism and never apologize for caring about the community over profits.
Re-post every week! Your words are so inspiring.
Excellent article. No truer words have been said than "When strongmen feel they are in danger, they become more, not less, aggressive."
The same holds true for nation states. When national leaders fear they are in jeopardy of losing power, they go on the offensive, perhaps leading to war. The aggressiveness has been used countless times in anticipation of rallying a non-committal or disinterested population behind a common cause. Fear and insecurity, real or imagined, is a great way to keep the rabble in line.
'They' can never admit a mistake, or their humanness. What's up with that?
One way to understand the reason they can't admit a mistake and have no capacity for empathy with others is that they're psychologically very fragile...their good feeling about themselves depends on a grandiose sense of superiority. Admitting a mistake or showing compassion is equal to weakness in their way of thinking. They're called "strongmen" but, in my opinion, they're not strong at all. They're easily threatened by autonomous others and need to be the only person in the room who matters. That's what I think, Jan.
Well explained..."They're easily threatened by autonomous others and need to be the only person in the room who mayters."--insightful said. Thank you Madeline. Empathy is their key deficit? Their minds are metal.
Yes, they can't give attention because they need to get attention constantly. When they don't get the attention they need they fall into a narcissistic fit of rage, an annihilating fury which terrifies other people. They only care about whether you can service them, function the way they need you to function, do what they need at every given moment, otherwise they banish you or attempt to destroy you. Tyrants are all the same in this regard. :(
“One way to understand the reason they [fascists?] can't admit a mistake . . . “ I suggest calling fascists fascist. Otherwise, thank you for clarifying that “strongmen [are] not strong at all.” Hence, my objection to the euphemism .
My objection as well, Robert. I tend to use the word, Tyrant, when describing someone who uses fear, force, and intimidation to achieve the aim of being the only person who matters. I'm not sure I understand the point you're making between "fascists" and "fascist." An adjective rather than a noun?
“My objection as well…” I’m not sure what objection your referring to. As to fascists vs fascist, w/o going back and reading the original text, the latter likely referred to singular and used as an adjetive while the former was meant to be plural and adjective as well. BTW, my heartfelt thank you for your thoughtful contributions to Lucid. I try not to miss any. I usually if not always agree.
If I failed to clarify or answer your question, please let me know.
Wow...thank you, Robert! I'm happy to hear everything that you're thinking about as well. :)
In your first reply to me I thought you objected to the euphemism, "strongmen," just as I did. That's why I said that that was "my objection as well." Did I get that wrong?
Yikes!
""I, and I alone, assume political, moral, and historical responsibility for all that has happened…If Fascism [MAGA] has been a criminal association, I am the head of that criminal association….""
"...those who assured him that Mussolini [tfg] would "settle down" and become a more conventional politician— underestimated the danger. "
I didn't know the extent to which American oil interests were tied into Mussolini and certainly didn't know about Giacomo Matteoti. Looking forward to your new series of essays!
Having lived in Provincia di Varese, I very much feel the presence of these patriots of long ago. My great grandparents immigrated from the Monferrato in Piemonte before the rise of fascism, but those relatives that stayed behind suffered greatly. Many became partigiani, and their stories and fates are part of my family history. Thank you for sharing the story of Matteotti, a true patriot and one of thousands who fought and died against fascism.
Thank you so much, Ruth, for your expose on Giacomo Matteotti (1885-1924) the “anti-Fascist politician and democratic hero” of whom I was not aware – this is such an important endeavor of yours for our overall knowledge and ability to make important connections!
I was aware of the democratic and socialist movement, Fasci Siciliani (Sicilian Workers Leagues), in Sicily from 1889 -1894 through my own genealogical and social science interests. My great-grandfather Pietro Monaco was involved in it when he was young man before having a family when my grandfather Giuseppe Monaco was born in Sicily in 1898. Pietro eventually became a Border Patrol Officer in Sicily and worked for the government/military (during a no war/conflict era I believe) for the rest of his life while his son immigrated to the Detroit area with some distant relatives as a young man. Giuseppe was a very non-political immigrant (with very refined tastes) who preferred operas/music over visual arts and who somehow escaped any of the World Wars unlike my other immigrant English (French Huguenot – Irish literary/poetic ancestries) Grandfather also born in 1898)!
However, I was always interested of the role women played in the Fasci Siciliani movement which I read at the time was astounding but is repeatedly disregarded in history. What I read, was that women in Sicily were on the frontlines of strikes, protests, rallies, organizational meetings – although women did not have the right to vote at that time in history, they were among the most passionate of the Fasci members! The largest and toughest group of women in Sicily were women from Albania who settled in the town of Fascio of Piana degli Albanesi near Palermo, Sicily, and who generally practiced the Byzantine religion which was very surprising to me. And at the time I was learning this, an undergraduate art student friend tried to convince me it was due to the “Byzantine Art” which did something to the women’s abilities/skills as the art depictions usually involved frontal viewed & stable “icons” who had unforgettable stronger together messages of excellence embedded in them within their Fasci democracy organizing skills/pursuits. Interesting!
Anyway, sorry to digress…..LOL!
Never mess with a woman, ESPECIALLY, an Italian one. 😉
LOL!
Thank you for sharing real life family histories. Nothing like it ~ ~ to add to the knowledge. Stories help open doors.
Ruth, after reading your essay, I cannot imagine how chilling it must have felt for you to have heard Donald Trump utter the words “I alone can fix it.”
Thank you for your tribute to Giacomo Matteoti, a hero in the truest sense. Yes, let’s honor this man who demonstrated at the cost of his life, true heroism.
In the meantime we in the US have to do everything in our power to ensure Trump does not get in on 2024. Because this is what awaits.
You know what scares me most. Not so much Trump but the confluence of forces that made MAGA possible. I recently read Strongmen as well as Malcolm Nance and others. All of these great scholars and public servants point to a very public (sometimes surreptitious) hate-filled narcissism that lead to MAGA and Ukraine and other terrors. How can we, average citizens engage and protect our institutions from dangerous rhetorical demagogues who thrill the crowds so handily?
That’s not a rhetorical question. I’m genuinely asking.
I agree with Ted; be sure to vote and get out the vote. I would add, help inform others of the dire fascist threat, warning that 2024 offers us a stark choice; between a fascist dictatorship and democracy. Support the FL boycott and spreading it to TX, 2 fascist states.
Read. Vote. Act. Encourage others to do the same.
I always remember what Fiona Hill wrote in “There’s Nothing for you Here” — get involved in the community. Volunteer, join a sports league. Interact with your neighbours.
Yes!
13. "Practice corporeal politics." Dr. Tim Snyder, On Tyranny
I just re-read Lesson 13 from On Tyranny. This is so true! It is important to get out of the comfort zone and make new connections with people you don’t know. Perhaps this world wide rise in authoritarianism is more closely connected to social media and invasive spy tech (see Lesson 14) than we are comfortable admitting.
The 2nd edition, updated for all that had happened in Ukraine and the Pandemic.
Consider referring to fascists as
fascist instead of
authoritarianism.
Talk to cashiers, and everyone we meet, daily. Its our best chance to influence voting. ? Obliquely, side by side chats. (I visualize talking to a teen on a car ride,,, if that makes sense :) my only thought tonight!
We ought not forget DT’s words: “I alone can fix it.” It seems evident that DT studied his fascist hero’s and was inspired by them.
Ellen, how well you said that for many / all Lucidites, with gratitude to Ruth.
Excellent, thanks. Must watch PBS interview last night (Monday 14th) Judy Woodruffs interview with Judge Michael Luttig. Trump and company have no choice other than win the election. Georgia has raised the charge count to over 90. Those who have called the warnings of the past 8 years hysterics and overreaction, need to wake up. This is no longer a threat, this is American Fascism. The list of people warning of this, is nothing less than extraordinary. This will not “go away.” We have an active, strong, vibrant Fascist Party in America........... On a related side note: Steven Miller and America First, filed yesterday to sue Target for intentionally sinking stock prices....... by selling “Pride” material. The charges included knowing the boycott from conservatives would sink the stock before the action taken. We are looking at an insane time ahead of us. Be well folks.
Art: Thanks for the info. omg about miller or not ... I never understood why companies that didn't stand up for voting rights under assault and then Target caved to the autocrats and are now being attacked by them (chaos?). McCarthy warned the phone companies not to work with the 1/6 committee (he sounded like a dictator loyalist). They won't get the business that they used to get and the "government of criminals" can take it from the owners to make $$ of them like putin has done.
I agree and would prefer not to but this won't go away. Here's the link (from tiny url) to the PBS interview with Luttig. https://tinyurl.com/4jjk46f7
Thanks for posting the link. There must be a name for Miller, I just can’t think of one that describes my level of disgust toward him. I’m an old street kid from Beantown, at a loss of words when it comes to that puke. If I accidentally ran him over, I’d back up.
Community engagement is key. The 60th anniversary of the million man march is at the end of the month. Hope to see you there!
Trials should be expedited. Justice delayed is justice denied.
American fascism poses a national security threat while the U.S. is in denial. We’re even reluctant to call fascists, fascist.
Hey, Robert: Here's the difference.
https://time.com/5908244/strongman-fascism-history/
Here's one paragraph from our lovely-informative host (thank god).
But Ruth Ben-Ghiat, who looks back at about a century of authoritarian leadership in
her new book Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, argues that “fascism” should
only be used to describe dictators and one-party states in the 1920s and 1930s,
and specifically the philosophy of territorial conquest that originated with Italian
dictator Benito Mussolini in the aftermath of World War I.
I saw his name on piazzas (piazzi?) in Italy often, never knew this, Thanks Ruth!
Well Nina--there is a place for both words, but piazze for the public square. But for us---we can use piazzas!
"bringing shouted death threats from Fascist deputies around him."
Matt Gaetz, MTG, Lorene Boebert, Ted Cruz, and a slew of others.
Thank you for reminding us of some in Congress who I would refer to as fascists: “Matt Gaetz, MTG. Lorene Boebert, Ted Cruz. and a slew of others.” We need to begin naming names and ask our Congress persons to refer—those who aided and abetted DJT’s efforts to overthrow the 2020 election—to DOJ for prosecution for sedition. The 5 you mentioned seem good candidates.
Throw in Josh Hawley too! He may have run like a baby away from the crowd, but not before pumping his fist in unity with them.
Absolutely. As well as Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Lindsay Graham, and all MAGA Repub's who voted against impeachment once or even twice. All of them enabled "The Big Lie" which led to the violent insurrection and other attempts to overthrow the legitimate election of Joe Biden.
Give no quarter!
Wonderful history lesson. Thank you.
Oh my gosh!
Thank you so very much of this post Prof R. The heroes of democracy and freedom against fascism must ever be acknowledged and honored. Because, as wise Prof Timothy Snyder says in Lesson 19 of
"On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" the stakes too important.
Lesson 19. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.
Thank you for reminding us of Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny. . . “ it should be required reading. We need to learn the requisite elements of fascism to be able to ID fascists. To fight the enemy we must first accurately identify them.
Thank you so very much of this post Prof R. The heroes of democracy and freedom against fascism must ever be acknowledged and honored. Because, as wise Prof Timothy Snyder says in Lesson 19 of
"On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" the stakes too important.
Lesson 19. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.
Thank you so very much of this post Prof R. The heroes of democracy and freedom against fascism must ever be acknowledged and honored. Because, as wise Prof Timothy Snyder says in Lesson 19 of
"On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" the stakes too important.
Lesson 19. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.
Long live the White Rose.
Sophie Scholl and friends...
Great essay Ruth, thank you, what a Brave man ! Racism brings out the heroes in the community who are brave enough to stand up to lethal power , let’s hope it won’t get to that point in the USA
Such important history. I never learned much about Italian history, other than Mussolini was an axis leader and dictator in WW2. But rarely do these acts of resistance get the attention they deserve. In addition to the other excellent comments here, I was particularly chilled by the expectation by others that Mussolini would become a more typical, less volatile person. Sounds like the Mitch McConnell strategy of the Senate. Looking forward to the book next year--and there should be a Young Adult adaptation. We need to have more stories of resistance--including those that were overlooked. Giacomo Matteotti made me think of Michael Moore.--another person who saw the signs early. Thank you for this.
Yes, Keith, "...more stories of resistance..." I love your suggestion of adaptations for Young Adults.
In America Special Counsel Jack Smith, Fani Willis, and Adam Schiff are the Matteotti's. Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, 3%'ers, Attomwaffen, and Blackwater are America's blackshirts. In Russia, its Alexy Nalvany, Masha Gessen, Gary Kasporov, and Alexander Litevenchenko are the Matteotti's and Wagner mercenaries are the Black ( or Brown) shirts.