Mussolini famously created this toxic brew when he united socialism and nationalism, calling it fascism. Mussolini was a fellow traveler with Lenin, who congratulated Mussolini when he took control of Italy.
The only contact I could find between Lenin and Italy that could be interpreted in such a way was his address to the socialist party congress in 1916, which took place after Mussolini was expelled by the party because of his interventist ideas. If you think that at least in 1917 Lenin was condemning the socialists of the II International for the same reason (supporting the war) (amid other reasons, of course) and that Mussolini rose to power in 1922, this allegation of appraisal of Mussolini by Lenin in that context sounds quite suspicious.
Mussolini was called the "Lenin of Italy". Even during his march on Rome in 1922 Mussolini continued to espress admiration for the Soviet Union in the 20s, and called Stalin a "fellow fascist".
That's what I was saying.
> Mussolini was called the "Lenin of Italy"
By whom? I'm actually interested, not trying to retort.
> Mussolini continued to espress admiration for the Soviet Union in the 20s, and called Stalin a "fellow fascist".
Not to be too blunt, but Mussolini can say whatever he wants. This doesn't detract from the fact that it's hard to believe that Lenin praised Mussolini when he came to power in Italy.
Ask any historian whether these socialist movements were part of the left in anything but name.
They are authoritarian right and aside from insane fringe movements of people with profound ignorance of history, nobody would say otherwise.