Why did some middle-class Italians fear a socialist revolution after World War I?

Following World War I, many middle-class Italians feared a socialist revolution—a period known as the biennio rosso ("two red years," 1919–1920)—due to a combination of severe economic instability and the radical rhetoric of the Socialist Party.1

Several factors fueled this widespread anxiety:

• Economic Crisis: Postwar inflation decimated the value of savings and fixed incomes, while unemployment soared as soldiers returned home. This created a desperate environment where strikes and riots became routine.1
• Radical Rhetoric: Socialist leaders frequently proclaimed a desire to "do as in Russia," explicitly calling for revolution. Their hostility toward small property owners and slogans such as "who does not work shall not eat" directly threatened the middle class.1
• Social Unrest: The period saw widespread land occupations by peasants and factory occupations by workers, who sought to "replace the ruling class." The success of socialist and Catholic parties in local elections further alarmed the urban middle class, as these groups began controlling public works contracts.1
• Weak Governance: Postwar coalition governments were perceived as powerless to curb inflation or suppress the growing strike movements, undermining middle-class confidence in the state.1