What the last Kings of Italy can teach us about the Dangers of Populism

The last two Kings of Italy can teach us important lessons about the dangers of appeasing populism, fascism, nationalism, and authoritarianism.

Like many of today’s politicians, King Victor Emmanuel III made a deal with a buffoonish right-wing authoritarian to preserve his wealth, status, and power. That deal led to disaster and the destruction of Italy’s monarchy.

In the early 1920s, Italy was in chaos after the country’s catastrophic involvement in World War I. The economy had…