Final answer:
Italy was slipping into political and economic chaos by October 1922, evidenced by civil strife and an ineffective parliamentary system, which led to Mussolini's rise to power and the establishment of a fascist totalitarian state.
Step-by-step explanation:
By October 1922, Italy seemed to be slipping into political and economic chaos. After World War One, the country faced severe problems such as labor and socialist agitation, general strikes, and peasant unrest, which the government struggled to suppress.
The parliamentary democracy in Italy with its frequent change of coalitions and cabinets, coupled with post-war issues, showed signs of weakness.
As a response to this period of instability, Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party marched on Rome, leading to his appointment as prime minister by the king to prevent civil war. Mussolini's rise to power marked the onset of fascism and a move towards a totalitarian state in Italy, which promised national unity and stability at a time of significant political and economic turmoil.