Final answer:
Fascism in the 1930s was characterized by authoritarian rule in Italy and Spain, with Spain's Franco and Italy's Mussolini sharing a disdain for democracy and creating totalitarian states, which later formed an alliance with Japan.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1930s, fascism emerged in Europe as a significant force, notably in Italy and Spain, while military rule took hold in Japan. The Spanish Civil War was a brutal conflict where General Francisco Franco led a fascist rebellion, which was supported by Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany. Spain's old social order and dominance by the clergy, noble families, and the military allowed Franco to establish his regime and maintain power until 1975. Unlike Germany and Italy's later totalitarian fascism, Spain's brand of fascism allowed some institutions like the Catholic Church to retain independence. Mussolini in Italy created a totalitarian state through the use of propaganda and suppression of opposition, similar to Franco's antipathy towards democracy and secular influences. Meanwhile, Italy's fascist agenda coupled with aggression in Abyssinia led to sanctions, pushing Mussolini closer into an alliance with Hitler, forming the Axis Powers that also included Japan.