Communist and Fascist Revolutions in Europe

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter applies the domestic contagion effects theory to the Russian communist revolution and the Italian fascist revolution. It finds a significant socialist movement in France, Germany, and Italy, with Britain somewhat ambiguous. Most great powers were hostile toward the Bolsheviks, but Germany was more complicated. Regarding the Italian Revolution, only Germany had a significant fascist movement, but even in that case, there was little concern about contagion—rather, states focused on the threat from the left rather than the right. Although there are some anomalies for the theory, contagion effects explain important aspects of the period that otherwise would be puzzling.