The Formation of the Modern Austrian Nation

The book describes the process of Austrian nation-formation policies conducted by the Austrian state after 1945 as well as the ideological background provided by Austrian intellectuals and historians. The author confronts the Austrian case with nation-formation theory.

The Austrian case of nation formation was a latecomer in the European perspective. Only after the II World War did the Austrian nation form, which resulted in a general omission of the Austrian case from major theoretical works and comparative studies. The book is a summary of classical and modern nation formation theories, as well as an inquiry in the process of Austrian nation formation. The author firmly places the Austrian case in necessary theoretical framework. The book focuses on nation building policies conducted by the Second Austrian Republic and the changing ways in which the Austrian nation was perceived (a cultural or political nation?). The main focus of the author is the ideological background provided historians in the aforementioned nation-building process. The book also delves in the politics of affirmation and opposition to the new Austrian national identity.

Autorentext

Piotr Andrzejewski is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Chief Analyst at the Institute of the Western Affairs. Graduated in history from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznä in 2011. Completed a dual co-tutelle PhD at the University of Rostock and the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Inhalt

Methods and theories - Methodology - Basic terminology -Not so basic terminology-the significance of nationhood - A ride through history-the changing understanding of nationhood - The nation as a principle for the organization of society - History - The role of history in nation formation - Austrian history in the nation-formation context - The Austrian case of transitional justice - Historiography of the Austrian nation - Politics - Political elites - The parties of consensus-the ÖVP and SPÖ - Breaking the consensus. A failed opposition-the FPÖ