CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS IN THE
GERMAN-SPEAKING COUNTRIES- IRE214
§ Fall 2018 Session 4: Austria- introduction
Maya Hadar
§ General information
§ Conceptualizing Austria
§ The country’s political structure
Introduction to Austria
2
§ Area: 83.87 sqkm
§ Major religion: Christianity
§ Majority language: German
§ Minority languages:
§ Croatian, Slovene, Hungarian,
Czech, Slovak and Romani
§ Life expectancy
§ 80 years (men)
§ 84 years (women)
General Information
§ The Republic of Austria is made of nine states
§ Vienna – serves as the capital city of the entire country
§ 9 federal states:
- Vienna (Wien)
- Burgenland
- Lower Austria (Niederösterreich)
- Upper Austria (Oberösterreich)
- Styria (Steiermark)
- Salzburg
- Carinthia (Kärnten)
- Tyrol (Tirol)
- Vorarlberg
General Information
§ The federal legislation is carried out by the two
chambers of Parliament:
§ National Council (Nationalrat)
§ Federal Council (Bundesrat)
§ Austria is a member of:
§ The European Union
§ The United Nations
§ Most UN organizations
General Information
§ 8.7 million inhabitants, 98% speak German
§ The six ethnic groups officially recognized
(Croatians, Roma, Slovaks, Slovenians, Czechs
and Hungarians) are concentrated in the east
and south of the country
§ Appr. 66% of Austrians are Roman Catholic,
3,9% are Protestant, 4,5% are Muslims, the
rest belongs to other religious denominations
§ Danube - 2850 km long, flows into the Black
Sea
General Information
Vienna
§ Capital of Austria and a federal
state
§ Surrounding province: Lower Austria
§ Located in the north-east of Austria
§ Borders the Czech Republic,
Slovakia and Hungary
§ Famous for architecture and music
§ Population: 1.7 Million
§ Area: 414,90 km2
§ 23 districts
§ Prominants:
§ Johann Strauß (composer)
§ Franz Schubert (composer)
§ Arthur Schnitzler (author)
§ Sigmund Freud (psychoanalyst)
§ Erwin Schrödinger (physicist)
§ Gustav Klimt (painter)
Vienna
Burgenland
§ Most east, young and flat Austrian federal
state
§ Capital => Eisenstadt
§ Neighbouring federal states: Lower
Austria, Styria
§ Neighbouring states: Slovakia, Hungary,
Slovenia
§ 7 districts, 3,966 km² , 284,897 residents
§ Several ethnic minorities: Croatians,
Hungarians, Roma
§ Important wine growing area
Lower Austria
§ Located in the north-east of Austria
§ Austria’s largest federal state
§ Capital: St. Pölten
§ Neighbouring provinces: Upper Austria,
Styria, Burgenland
§ Neighbouring states: Slovakia, Czech
Republic
§ 19.177 km²
§ 1.6 million people
§ 4 districts, called “Viertel”
§ Highest mountain of Lower Austria:
Schneeberg, 2076m
Upper Austria
§ The fourth-largest federal state
§ Capital: Linz (cultural capital of Europe 2009)
§ Neighbouring provinces: Lower Austria, Styria,
Salzburg
§ Neighbouring states: Czech Republic, Germany
§ 11.981 km²
§ 1.41 million people
§ 5 regions
§ important industry: VOEST Alpine
Styria
§ Second largest Austrian federal state (concerning the
area covered)
§ Capital: Graz (cultural capital of Europe 2003)
§ Neighbouring federal states: Burgenland, Lower Austria,
Upper Austria, Salzburg, Carinthia
§ Neighbouring states: Slovenia
§ 16.391 km²,1.21 million residents
Styria
§ Styria is called “the green heart of Austria” (61%
of it are covered by forests, fruit gardens,
vineyards and grasslands)
§ 17 districts
§ Styria is the home of the well-known company
“Magna” (car supply industry)
§ Arnold Schwarzenegger
Salzburg
§ Divided into five regions, called “Gau”
§ Capital: Salzburg
§ Neighbouring federal states: Upper Austria,
Styria, Carinthia and Tyrol
§ Neighbouring states: Germany
§ 7.154 km², 531.721 residents
Salzburg
§ Winter sports and various music festivals are
the main attractions for tourists
§ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in
Salzburg
Carinthia
§ Southernmost Austrian federal state
§ Capital => Klagenfurt
§ Neighbouring provinces: Styria, Salzburg, Tyrol
§ Neighbouring states: Slovenia, Italy
§ 9.535 km²
§ Population => 558,271
§ 8 districts
§ Known for its chemical, mechanical engineering and
electrical industry
Carinthia shares the
Großglockner (3798m) – the
highest mountain of Austria –
with Tyrol
Carinthia
Tyrol
§ Capital: Innsbruck
§ Dominated by the wonderful peaks of the Alps
§ Neighbouring federal states: Salzburg, Vorarlberg
§ Neighbouring states: Germany, Italy, Switzerland
§ North and East Tyrol (8 districts) =>
§ 12.647 km², 710.084 residents
§ South Tyrol (has been a part of Italy since 1918)
=>
§ 7.400 km², 507.657 residents
Vorarlberg
§ The westernmost, and second smallest Austrian federal
state
§ Capital: Bregenz
§ Neighbouring federal state: Tyrol
§ Neighbouring states: Germany, Switzerland,
Liechtenstein
§ 2.601 km², 370.000 residents, 6 regions
§ Lake Constance (Bodensee) is one of the biggest
lakes in Europe
§ River Rhine forms part of the western border of the
federal state
Political Leaders
President: Alexander van der Bellen
§ Green Party politician
§ largely ceremonial post
§ Elected in the December 2016, defeating
Norbert Hofer of the far-right Freedom
Party
§ Initial run => Won a narrow victory, highly
polarized election annulled due to votecounting
irregularities
Political Leaders
President: Alexander van der Bellen
§ Hofer’s potential in becoming the first farright
European head of state in recent history
attracted major international media
Political Leaders
Chancellor: Sebastian Kurz
§ Heading the Austrian People's Party (OeVP)
Youngest Minister of Foreign Affairs in Austrian
history –was 27 when entered office
§ World's youngest head of government (sworn
chancellor in December 2017 at the age of 31)
§ Became OeVP chairman in May 2017
Political Leaders
Chancellor: Sebastian Kurz
§ Immediately ended the decade-long coalition
government with the Social Democrats (SPOe) and
called for an early election
§ Formed a coalition government with the far-right
Freedom Party (FPOe), making Austria the only
country in western Europe with a far-right
presence in government
§ 6k people protested, denouncing the Freedom
Party as Nazis
Neutrality and Army
§ In 1955 Austria declared its permantent neutrality
§ Although not a member of NATO, Austria does participate in
various international military activities
§ Have an army- mandatory conscription for men
§ Member state of the EU, Council of Europe, UN, OECD and
OSCE
§ Traditional dishes (Vienna):
§ Wiener Schnitzel
§ Tafelspitz
§ Apfelstrudel
§ Palatschinkeen (sweet pancakes)
§ Sachertorte
§ Christmas tree => was exported to Austria by
a German princess, who married a Habsburg
prince
§ Opera Ball (Vienna) => The most famous ball
event of Austria
Austrian Culture
Changing Manifestation of Austria
§ Roman Provinces (1-5th c. AC)
§ Frontier Province (Mark) (803-1156), 996 “Ostarrichi”
§ Duchy (1156) – state sovereignty
§ Regnum (1192-1699)
§ World Empire (1516-1556)
§ Continental Empire (1699-1918)
§ Republic (1918-38, 1945)
§ United with Germany in World War II
§ Republic of Austria (modern times)
Conceptualizing Austria
§ There is no natural geographical territory defined as "Austrian”
§ Throughout history, similarly to other states, Austria had different territories
with changing boundaries
§ There is no ‘Austrian people’ in an ethnic sense
§ Austrians are the people that belong to the respective state
§ Subjects of the Duke, Archduke, King, Emperor etc.
§ Citizens of the Empire, Republic
§ The Austrian population consists of various ethnic groups which form one
nation; Political nation: Austrian Ethnic nation: German, Czech, Magyar,
Croat, …
§ Was often part of larger political units: Holy Roman Empire =>
German Confederation => Austrian Empire => AustroHungarian
Empire => European Union
§ Independent since 1955
§ Industries include: Steel, machinery, chemicals, forestry, hydropower,
handicrafts (wood, glass, textile, ceramic), tourism, foreign trade
Always a ‘Team player’
§ Midsummer fires are lit by the end of June to welcome
summer, mainly in the Wachau Valley (lower austria,
Vorarlberg)
§ Zwickelscheit: a log which is brought to the households
by the youngsters on January 1; it is put under the
table and is said to bring good luck (Burgenland)
§ Budelfrau: a helper of Santa Claus who brings sweets
for the children on January 6 (Burgenland)
Austrian Culture
§ Perchten are figures wearing beautiful/ugly masks
(Schönperchten/Schiachperchten) and going around
in the villages on January 6
§ May trees are put up on May 1 to welcome spring
§ Prangstangen are decorated with flowers and are
carried around in June to secure a good harvest for
the farmers salzburg
Austrian Culture
§ the Dirndl, consists of a close fitting bodice combined
with an apron in a different colour
§ The traditional Steireranzug is a greyish garment
made from loden with green embroidery
§ the Lederhosen, knee-long trousers or short-pants
made from leather, are worn with rustic shoes and
woollen socks
§ bread consecration is an important Easter tradition
Tyrol
Austrian Culture
33
§ Austria ranks high in:
§ Wealth, Growth and Competitiveness
§ Living standards and quality of life
§ Employment (relatively low unemployment)
§ Public opinion: citizens satisfied, despite concerns
§ Attractiveness to others: migration, tourism, business leaders..
Economy
FES - Ideas - Madrid 8.2.2010 Eva Belabed
34
Austria moves towards the Service Society
35
Tourism is an important sector
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Very few strikes
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Economic & Social Partnership- Institutional Setup
§ The Austrian System of Economic and Social Partnership
§ Works on different levels, based on different grounds (legal, voluntary,
bargaining)
§ General level => The Austrian Social Partners
§ Sectoral Level => Sectoral Unions and Federations (Economic Chamber)
§ Company Level: Works Councils and Management
§ Aims: Strengthening Competitiveness and stability, preserving and
improving social standards and protecting the ecological bases of
existence
38
Labour Relations in Austria
Sozialpartnerschaft
§ Have contributed to Austria being one of the richest countries in the world
and are still very important
§ Have helped mitigate the impact of the Euro crisis in Austria
§ Confidence in Social Partners
is (very) high
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Institutional Setup: Social Partners
The Austrian Social Partners:
§ The Economic Chamber (WKÖ)
§ The Chamber of Labour (BAK)
§ The Chamber of Agriculture (LKÖ)
§ The Austrian Trade Union Federation (OGB)
40
Confidence in institutions
Source: Market-Marktforschung, October 2008, Vertrauen ist ungleich verteilt http://www.vmoe.at/rte/upload/news_vertrauen_ist_ungleich_verteilt_.pdf
§ Austrians have
varying degrees
of confidence in
institutions:
§ Chamber of
Labour ranking
first
§ President
§ Bank
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Life Satisfaction, Confidence & Optimism
Eurobarometer Nr. 72, December 2009:
Comparing Austria and EU: AUS EU
Satisfied with life 85% 78%
Satisfied ec. Situation 43% 23%
Confidence Government 54% 29%
Confidence political parties 36% 16%
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Life Satisfaction, Confidence & Optimism
Eurobarometer Nr. 72, December 2009:
Austria:
§ 2/3 see no impact of the EU debit crisis on
personal situation
§ 20% expect improvements
§ The European debt crisis/Eurozone crisis is a multi-year debt
crisis that has been taking place in the EU since 2009
§ Several Eurozone member states (Greece, Portugal, Ireland,
Spain and Cyprus) were unable to repay/refinance their
government debt/to bail out over-indebted banks under their
national supervision without the assistance of third parties (other
Eurozone countries, the European Central Bank, or the
International Monetary Fund)
43
Austria and the EU
§ EU member since 1995, Schengen 1997
§ Intra-EU trade accounts for 71% of Austria’s exports
§ Germany 30%, Italy 6%, and Slovakia 4%
§ Exports outside the EU => 6% go to the US, 5% to Switzerland
§ Imports:
§ 78% come from EU Member States (Germany 43%, Italy 6% and
Czech Republic 4%)
§ Outside the EU => 6% come from Switzerland and 3% from China
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Austria and the EU
45
Austria and the EU
46
Austria and the EU
§ Council of the EU => national ministers meet
regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies
§ Council meetings regularly attended by Austrian
representatives depending on the policy area
being addressed
§ Presidency of the Council of the EU => The Council doesn't have a permanent,
single-person president. Its work is led by the country holding the Council
presidency, which rotates every 6 months
47
Austria and the EU
§ During these 6 months, ministers from that
country's government chair and determine
the agenda of Council meetings in each
policy area + facilitate dialogue with the
other EU institutions
§ Austria currently holds the presidency
(July-Dec 2018)
48
How did Austria get there?
§ Despite: no significant
resources, small country
§ But: skills, small country
(cf Nordics), institutional
setup and cooperation
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How did Austria get there?
§ Despite: no significant resources, small country
§ But: skills, small country (cf Nordics), institutional setup and cooperation,
§ Success Factors:
§ Political Consensus – learning from the past
§ Labour Relations – negotiations to prevent conflicts
§ Mixed Economy: Private – Public – Welfare State
§ Technology Follower
50
Challenges
§ Globalisation and new capitalism lead to:
§ Increasing pressure on living and working conditions and on social
protections systems, Public Services (privatizations)
§ Rising inequalities
§ Further challanges Austria is facing:
§ The EU crisis =>
§ Rising inequalities, Education, Innovation, Tax structure
§ Sustainable Growth Model
§ Next Session...
51
§ The Austrian Empire
§ The Austro-Hungarian Empire
§ Nationaliss and social multiculturalism
§ Politics and society
§ Foreign policy
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Thank You For Your Attention!
Questions???