If not out of fear, then out of weakness in terms of resources.
Even Shaka had a large empire, in spite of his relative lack of technology.
My point is that the great-grandson was only speaking in terms of what Mussolini did domestically. I wouldn’t think Italians would have the stomach to return to the foreign adventures of the Fascist years, although they might like to see some sense of order domestically that Fascism promises to bring.