Austria’s Democratic Rebirth: From Authoritarian Collapse to a European Future

Guide book >> Austrian Path

The Austrian path from the end of democracy in 1934, the NS-occupation 1938 – 1945, its liberation from Nazi rule 1945 by allied forces, its 10 years of allied occupation and semi-sovereignty from 1945 to 1955, to its final liberation 1955 is unique in European history.

From the Collapse of the First Republic to the Foundations of the Second

While the first Republic collapsed for a “lack of democrats” and a severe economic and political crisis, the II. Republic was built on the same foundations as the first, but with assistance and under supervision of the allied occupation powers. Austria’s electorate proofed determined enough in 1945, despite Soviet partial occupation and pressure, to vote for the democratic forces in the country, leaving the communist party with less than 6% of the votes.

Rebuilding Democracy After 1945

Re-building democracy in Austria required a number of special efforts: learning from the mistakes of the 1920s and early 1930s, rebuilding society and the economy, and confronting the atrocities of the Nazi regime and its henchmen. Although the momentum of denazification of state and society waned as early as 1949, Austria succeeded in establishing a stable, liberal, pluralistic and increasingly wealthy democracy. In 1956 Austria joined the Council of Europe as full-fledged democracy with rule of law and human rights.

Austria’s Path Toward Europe

When the division of Europe was overthrown by peaceful revolutions in Eastern and Central Europe, Austria entered the path to EU membership and is an active EU member since 1995.

The local path highlights the fact that all of these historic steps, the defat of Nazism, building democracy, establishing human rights, joining the Council of Europe and the European Union had to be won with great sacrifices (defeating Nazi Regime) and the latter against considerable resistance.

The current status of country, society and the EU are the result of the struggles for democracy and human rights and the constant attempt to expand and improve democracy, society and welfare.

The FREI Local Path in a European Perspective

The FREI project local path presents the Austrian post 1945 history not only of a success of Austria and Europe but as a heritage and mission of the younger. In this framework FREI will also look into the current status of democracy and participation in Austria and the EU, will compare the challenges in Austria with the partner’s stories of FREI in PT, IT, RO and GR. Thu the Austrian local path will also have a strong (pan-)European component of vision and debate.