independent race and refugee news network


	Topics

Government policy

Policing and criminal justice system

Violence and harassment

Asylum seekers and refugees

Education

Media

Employment

Extreme-Right politics

Features

Statistics and definitions

Quiz

Schools against deportations

Reclaiming the struggle

Far-Right in Europe

Parameters of a new Austrian nationalism

By Liz Fekete

1 December 1996

With much publicity surrounding the antics of Umberto Bossi's separatist Northern League in Italy newspapers are increasingly focusing on the growth in regional nationalist movements throughout Europe.

How far such movements are defined by racism or extreme right-wing ideology is increasingly a subject of concern for the IRR Race Audit.

In terms of Austria, the question being asked is whether an anti-German Austrian nationalism is emerging, prompted by resentment at Germany's increasing economic and cultural influence.

'Deutschmark imperialism'

A 'Priority for Austria' sentiment is emerging, as German businesses are accused of 'Deutschmark imperialism' and taking over businesses in a new Anschluss. Whereas elderly Austrians may support a 'Greater Germany', they are in a minority as a separate Austrian nationalism grows.

According to the Austrian Economics Research Institute, the German economy completely dominates the Austrian internal market, with 40 per cent of imports and exports. Foreign investment of 30 billion schillings (£1.8 billion) is expected in Austria this year, just over 80 per cent coming from Germany. A series of German industrial takeovers has provoked working-class discontent. At the Semperil tyre factory south of Vienna, unionists were mobilising against the German parent firm, Continental, which has decided to close parts of the factory, halve the workforce and transfer production to the much cheaper Czech Republic.

Cultural imperialism

German cultural imperialism and 'appropriation' of leading Austrian artists has been debated by Austrian historians and intellectuals at a conference in Braunau, and by artists in Bonn. The common German language gives Germany a strong influence in literature, publishing, media and culture. Austria has no indigenous commercial television and the two state channels.

privacy | using our content | advertising | support us