2 The ‘fascistisation’ of police culture
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Jonathan Dunnage
Abstract
This chapter assesses how far fascist ideas entered the policing profession. A major locus for public representation of the Interior Ministry Police during the fascist period was Police Day, a national celebration introduced in 1928 and held annually on 18 October. During the period of conception of Benito Mussolini's police state, opposed factions within fascism disputed whether primacy in the creation of the new civilisation should be awarded to the state or the Party. The expectation that policemen should serve the fascist state over and above all other allegiances was written into their induction formula. The chapter analyses procedures for recruitment and training of police personnel. Limited modifications to recruitment and training procedures in the regular police forces hardly responded to the major overhaul of state employment which fascist reformers had envisaged.
Abstract
This chapter assesses how far fascist ideas entered the policing profession. A major locus for public representation of the Interior Ministry Police during the fascist period was Police Day, a national celebration introduced in 1928 and held annually on 18 October. During the period of conception of Benito Mussolini's police state, opposed factions within fascism disputed whether primacy in the creation of the new civilisation should be awarded to the state or the Party. The expectation that policemen should serve the fascist state over and above all other allegiances was written into their induction formula. The chapter analyses procedures for recruitment and training of police personnel. Limited modifications to recruitment and training procedures in the regular police forces hardly responded to the major overhaul of state employment which fascist reformers had envisaged.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures vii
- Preface and acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
- 1 ‘Cinderella status’ 8
- 2 The ‘fascistisation’ of police culture 37
- 3 Oppression and consensus-building 78
- 4 The performance of Mussolini’s policemen 104
- 5 Personal profiles 135
- 6 Facing the demise of fascism 166
- 7 Conclusion 206
- Select bibliography 223
- Index 229
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures vii
- Preface and acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
- 1 ‘Cinderella status’ 8
- 2 The ‘fascistisation’ of police culture 37
- 3 Oppression and consensus-building 78
- 4 The performance of Mussolini’s policemen 104
- 5 Personal profiles 135
- 6 Facing the demise of fascism 166
- 7 Conclusion 206
- Select bibliography 223
- Index 229
