Answer :
Final answer:
Benito Mussolini was the leader associated with the rise of fascism in Italy prior to World War II.
Explanation:
Prior to World War II, the leader most closely associated with the rise of fascism in Italy was Benito Mussolini. Mussolini, as the dictator of Italy in the 1920s, played a pivotal role in popularizing the term fascism, which stemmed from the symbol of power and unity in ancient Rome. He led the Italian Fascist Party and created a totalitarian regime, dismantling democracy and concentrating political power in his hands.
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