Fascism contributed to the evolution of the Italian welfare state, mainly in respect of the latter of this binomial: the state. The development of social security helped to realize the totalitarian aspirations of the regime and stood as the theoretical and practical means of overcoming old liberalism in terms of government and citizenship. Nonetheless, Fascism never intended to establish universal welfare, which would only be achieved by the subsequent Republican era, particularly through the recognition of social rights as outlined in the 1948 Italian Constitution. In the same years, a radically different context also experienced a similar struggle over the definition of a modern welfare state: the United States. In response to the prolonged economic downturn, FDR’s New Deal sought to reconcile the previous warfare experiences with the necessity for a more prominent role of the federal government in economic and social matters, even in peacetime. Strange as it may seem, Fascism was one of the successful models to reckon with. The 1935 Social Security Act, which established a federal system of benefits and insurance, resulted in a transformation of the (welfare) state that bears resemblance to that of Fascist Italy. If this was not ultimately the case, it was due to a distinct emphasis placed on rights, which were regarded as a pivotal element of the political and constitutional framework. Although this «rights dis-course» distinguished the American experience from that of totalitarian regimes in the 1930s and 1940s, the concept of universal social rights encountered significant challenges in being adequately recognized within the context of American jurisprudence. Finally, this comparative analysis of the evolution of welfare in Italy and the United States during the interwar period demonstrates the pivotal role of the rights discourse in shaping the modern and democratic welfare state. This relationship should not be overlooked in understanding the past and planning for the future of welfare.
Social Security Without Rights? Rights Discourse and the Welfare State in Fascist Italy and New Deal America
MALPASSI STEFANO
2025
Abstract
Fascism contributed to the evolution of the Italian welfare state, mainly in respect of the latter of this binomial: the state. The development of social security helped to realize the totalitarian aspirations of the regime and stood as the theoretical and practical means of overcoming old liberalism in terms of government and citizenship. Nonetheless, Fascism never intended to establish universal welfare, which would only be achieved by the subsequent Republican era, particularly through the recognition of social rights as outlined in the 1948 Italian Constitution. In the same years, a radically different context also experienced a similar struggle over the definition of a modern welfare state: the United States. In response to the prolonged economic downturn, FDR’s New Deal sought to reconcile the previous warfare experiences with the necessity for a more prominent role of the federal government in economic and social matters, even in peacetime. Strange as it may seem, Fascism was one of the successful models to reckon with. The 1935 Social Security Act, which established a federal system of benefits and insurance, resulted in a transformation of the (welfare) state that bears resemblance to that of Fascist Italy. If this was not ultimately the case, it was due to a distinct emphasis placed on rights, which were regarded as a pivotal element of the political and constitutional framework. Although this «rights dis-course» distinguished the American experience from that of totalitarian regimes in the 1930s and 1940s, the concept of universal social rights encountered significant challenges in being adequately recognized within the context of American jurisprudence. Finally, this comparative analysis of the evolution of welfare in Italy and the United States during the interwar period demonstrates the pivotal role of the rights discourse in shaping the modern and democratic welfare state. This relationship should not be overlooked in understanding the past and planning for the future of welfare.
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