Final answer:
The governments of Mussolini's Italy and Franco's Spain both exhibited authoritarian, nationalist, and anti-communist characteristics under singular strong leaders. However, Franco allowed some independence to institutions like the Church, unlike Mussolini's total control, and was more cautious in foreign policy due to Spain's weaknesses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparison of Government Styles in Mussolini's Italy and Franco's Spain
Italy under Benito Mussolini and Spain under Francisco Franco shared similarities in their authoritarian regimes, each led by a singular strong leader with total control. Mussolini's Italy, characterized by the ideology of fascism which emerged in the early 1920s, involved suppression of socialism and labor strikes leading to a government ruled by Mussolini as Il Duce. On the other hand, Franco's Spain, emerged from the Spanish Civil War where Franco, supported by Nationalists and backed by Hitler and Mussolini, established his regime uniting the old nobilities, the army, and the Catholic Church.
Both regimes advocated strong nationalist sentiments and were anti-communist, with their governance marked by the suppression of opposition and a centralized power hierarchy. However, notable contrasts include Franco's regime allowing a degree of independence to the Church, army, and bureaucracy, unlike the complete control seen in Mussolini's Italy. Additionally, Francisco Franco adopted the title of Caudillo and was more cautious of Spain's relative weakness, contrasting with Mussolini's more aggressive foreign policy stance.