Social Policies

Mussolini’s social policies were also aimed to increase his popularity. The battle for births was an attempt to increase the number of Italians from 40 to 60 million by 1950. More people also meant more soldiers. His effort gave a short term boost to the birth rate but despite propaganda. Tax incentives, number of births each year fell steadily during the 1950s.

His overall efforts in the social services were aimed to improve welfare services. There were cheap holidays, tours, after work clubs, Dopolavoro controlled theatres, libraries and other organizations. But it failed as there was no official government health insurance until 1943and only an inadequate unemployment insurance scheme.

The laterean treaty was aimed to get support from the church, ending a long standing conflict. Dropping his atheism and anti-clericalism and replacing it with a policy of state support of the church, the church supported him. Under the terms of the treaty, the state recognized the sovereignty of the pope within Vatican City and the papacy recognized the kingdom of Italy. He also made Catholicism the state religion, church marriage and divorce laws became those of the state and religions teaching in the schools were expanded. The church also received a substantial sum of money.

Education was aimed to be a social indoctrination, which is to glorify Mussolini, the Duce, and to have total obedience to authority. They controlled young minds by instilling some desired values that the regime deemed necessary.