Prompt A)

Contemporary Austrian politics is marred by the reemergence of Far Right, ultranationalist politicians who have taken advantage of domestic and international political instability to seize power in the government.  In the past these politicians have been known for their inflammatory rhetoric which has actively demonized muslims, jews, Roma, and other non ethnically Austrian minorities.  Austrian law has sought to curb the influence of Neo-Nazi’s & other supportive movements through strict anti-semitism and holocaust denial laws akin to those in Germany (Foreign Policy, 2016), while working to preserve civil liberties such as the right to assembly (Freedom House, 2018).  In trying to strike a careful balance which preserves basic civil liberties while refusing to give ground for Neo-Nazi behavior, those with fascist and racist sympathies have been finding ways to stretch the boundaries of the law to get away with otherwise obvious acts of hate.  

Since the passing of Holocaust Denial laws in 1992 which expanded on the 1947 framework for denazification, Austria has jailed and fined individuals and organizations which have engaged in anti-Semitic or nazi behavior (JURIST, 2017).    This follows a similar trend taken by other countries that either perpetrated or aided Nazi Germany during the Second World War (Bleich, 2011, 48).  While Austria has punished nazi sympathizers, ironically including the current Vice-Chancellor for organizing a Hitler Youthesque rally as a teenager (Times of Israel, 2017), there is a national narrative of victimhood which deflects association of Austria with Nazi cooperation and rather suggests that they are a victim akin to other European countries and nationalities (Niederacher, 2003).  

The inability for the Austrian government to fully accept its responsibility for the Holocaust and other war crimes under the Third Reich will always leave the country at a disadvantage when it comes to engagement with far right and racist movements.  In a recent legal case surrounding the youth Identitarian movement, courts vindicated 10 members following their arrest for criminal association and hate speech (Vice, 2018).  Many fear that the inability for the Austrian courts to firmly interpret the rule of law and define the boundaries of what is and is not hate speech will embolden the far right to act boldly down the road.  Until Austria can reevaluate its national culture and accept its share of responsibility for the Holocaust, no amount of legal balancing over freedom of association and speech can stop Neo-Nazi’s from pushing their agenda.

Part B:

It is no secret that the Russian Federation has sought to influence politics throughout the western world.  While their actions in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom may be better documented, they have quietly been engaged in a P.R. campaign in Austria over the last several years which has grown to fruition following the election of a coalition government in 2018 between the center right OVP and the ultranationalist FPO.  What has occurred over the years in Austria is the gradual permeation of Russia of soft power which has been manifested in a variety of ways.  Be it the connection between Austrian right wing news sources with Kremlin sponsorship, their support for FPO leader and current vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, or the infamous Vienna Russian Balls, Moscow’s agents have been hard at work to aid far right movements throughout the country (Shekhovstov, 2017).  

Traditionally, because Austrian politics has been dominated by the center-left SVP and the aforementioned OVP, Russia has been hesitant about getting overly involved with fringe right wing movements in Austria.  However, this began to change as the Austrian public began to be more receptive to FPO politicians and their euroskeptic/anti-immigrant platform.  Since the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, the FPO took a pro-Russia turn, engaging with leading figures in Putin’s government who exported their political, religious, and cultural rhetoric into Austria (Shekhovstov, 204, 2017). 

The connection between the FPO and the Kremlin has given the OVP chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, somewhat of a link to Putin.  The two of them have repeaditely met since the 2018 election and have sought to deepen the interconnectivity between the two countries, with Kurz seeing this as an opportunity to bridge the Euro-Russian divide and Putin viewing this as his opportunity to gain a supportive ally in the E.U. (Politico, 2018).  Given these linkages between the current Austrian government and Putin, it is safe to say that Russia’s gamble with the FPO has paid off thus far as they now have the potential to legitimize their brand of ultranationalism throughout Austria. 

Sources:

“Austria.” Freedom House. March 12, 2018. Accessed November 19, 2018. https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/austria.

Large, David Clay. “Germany + Nazi Denial = Austria.” Foreign Policy. December 2, 2016. Accessed November 19, 2018. https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/12/02/germany-nazi-denial-austria/.  

Bleich, Erik. The Freedom to Be Racist?: How the United States and Europe Struggle to

Preserve Freedom and Combat Racism. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2011.

Callan, Autumn. “Austria court convicts man for violating anti-nazi laws with Facebook.” JURIST: A Collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh. July 31, 2017.  Accessed November 19, 2018. https://www.jurist.org/news/2017/07/austria-court-convicts-man-for-violating-anti-nazi-laws-with-facebook-post/.  

“Heinz-Christian Strache from neo-Nazi youth to Austrias next vice-chancellor.” The Times of Israel. December 16, 2017. Accessed November 19, 2018. https://www.timesofisrael.com/heinz-christian-strache-from-neo-nazi-youth-to-austrias-next-vice-chancellor/.  

Shekhovstov, Anton. Russia and the Western Far Right. Routledge Press, 2017.