The idea of the total state and Benito Mussolinis doctrines of fascism in the 1920 and 30s, what are they and how may we interpret them? Is the discourse of Italian fascism more authoritarian and nationalistic, or where they more in line with the even more extreme views held by the national socialists in Germany? Was Mussoloni inspired by for example the philosopher Julius Evola when he created/constructed his traditionalist and futurist ideology?
I think it's quite possible - not that one has to! - to write a detailed and comprehensive history of Italian Fascism without ever mentioning the name of Giulio Cesare Evola, in the same way that most people without an academic interest in Italian Fascism have probably never heard of Manacorda, Gemelli, or Ercole.
And this is not merely a consideration of merit; even if I don't think Evola to be much more representative of the various trends within Italian Fascism than those other figures. Evola was 24 when Mussolini "Marched on Rome", and 20 at the foundation of the Fasci di Combattimento; an extravagant and marginal figure compared to the "institutional" second generation of Italian Fascists (those who had not participated to the interventionist movement in 1914-15). Mussolini was obviously unlikely to model anything after him.
Similarly to another reoccuring presence of "fascist studies" - Ugo Spirito - Evola's popularity rests in good measure on his ability to remain relevant after the end of Italian Fascism, and to continue to remain "avant-garde" (albeit limitedly to his niche cultural environment) while most of the other "veterans" of the Regime were confined to the role of relics within their own neo-fascist or post-fascist national-conservative movement (you can think of men like De Marsanich, or Graziani). His clearer ideological connections with certain NationalSocialist environments, and his working as a trait-d'union with other traits of "fascism" that continue to enjoy a certain popularity (exotericism, occultism, mysticism) compared to what I'd regard as more relevant elements, also contributed to a tendency to overemphasize his importance. In this sense, it's worth keeping in mind that Evola was probably more relevant to post-WW2 neo-fascism than he ever was to Italian Fascism.
In this context, and with this specific perspective, one can probably appreciate the real significance of his figure, or what real significance his figure actually had for "fascism" and especially for the legacy of fascism.
I am unfortunately seriously struggling with my schedule. But I hope you may find something of interest in this previous answer of mine which discusses certain ideological and cultural elements at the root of Mussolini's early steps into a definition of Fascism. It does not cover everything you mentioned, but does discuss the intersection between elements of modernity and elements of reaction taking place between the early XX Century and the immediate post-war years.