Volume 10: Austria in the European Union

Austria joined the European Union in 1995, with the overwhelming support of its citizenry. In June 1994, a record of 66.6 percent of the Austrian population voted in favor of joining the Union, and Austria acceded on January 1, 1995. Only three years later, in the second half of 1998, Austria assumed its first presidency of the European Union. Its competent conduct of the Union's business enhanced reputation. The sense that Austria was a role model collapsed overnight: after a new conservative People's Party (ÖVP/FPÖ) coalition government was formed in Austria in early February 2000, Austria became Europe's nightmare.

Michael Gehler, co-editor

Volume 9: Neutrality in Austria

After Stalin's death, during a respite in Cold War tensions in 1955, Austria managed to rid itself of a quadripartite occupation regime and become a neutral state. As the Cold War continued, Austria's policy of neutrality helped make this small country into an important mediator of East-West differences, and neutrality became a crucial part of Austria's postwar identity.

In the post-Cold War era Austrian neutrality seems to demand redefinition. The work addresses such issues as what neutrality means when Austria's neighbors are joining NATO. What is the difference between Austrian neutrality in 1955 and 2000? In remaining apart from NATO, do Austrian elites risk their nation's national security? Is Austria a “free rider,” too stingy to contribute to Western defense? Has the neutralist mentality become such a crucial part of AUstrian postwar identity that its abandonment will threaten civil society?

Erika Thurner, co-editor

Volume 8: The Marshall Plan in Austria

Perhaps no country benefited more from the Marshall Plan for assistance in reconstruction of Europe after World War II than Austria. On per capita basis, each American tax-payer invested $80 per person in the Plan; each Austrian received $133 from the European recovery program, more than any other of the sixteen participating countries. Without the Marshall Plan, the Austrian economic miracle of the 1950's would have been unthinkable. Despite this, contemporary Austria seems to have forgotten this essential American contribution to its post-war reconstruction. This volume in the CAS Series examines how the Plan affected Austria, and how it is perceived today.

Günter Bischof, Anton Pelinka, Dieter Stiefel, editors

Volume 7: The Vranitzky Era in Austria

Franz Vranitzky was chancellor during ten years (1986-96) when the world dramatically changed in the aftermath of the cold war. The chapters in this volume try to assess Vranitzky's central role in recent Austrian and European history. Contributors include Richard Luther, Eva Novotny, Fritz Plasser, Irene Etzer-dorfer, Sonja Puntscher-Riekmann, Brigitte Unger, Peter Rosner, Alexander van der Bellen,and Georg Winkler.

Ferdinand Karlhofer, co-editor

Volume 6: Women in Austria

This volume deals with the position of women in Austrian society, politics, and in the economy and shows that it follows the familiar trajectory of Western societies Women were expected to accept their“proper” place in a male patriarchal world. Achieving equality in all spheres of life was a long struggle that is still not complete in spite of many advances. The chapters in Women in Austria attest to the growing interest and vibrancy in the areas of women's studies in Austria and present a cross-section of new research in this field to an international audience.

Erika Thurner, co-editor

Volume 5: Austrian Historical Memory and National Identity.

After World War II, Austrian elites constructed a new identity based on being a “victim” of Nazi Germany. Cold- war Austria, however, envisioned herself as a “neutral island of the blessed” between and separate from both super- power blocs. Now, with her membership in the European Union secured, Austria is reconstructing her painful historical memory and national identity.

Günter Bischof, Anton Pelinka, editors

Volume 4: Austro-Corporatism: Past, Present, Future.

This effort in particular reflects the uniqueness of the Austrian corporation, and looks at its deep historical roots from a comparative continental European perspective. Austro -Corporatism will be of intense interest for foreign policy analysts, historians, and scholars concerned with the unique elements in Central European politics.

Volume 3: Austria in the Nineteen Fifties

Unlike in America, the decade of the 1950's was not remembered for affluence and harmony. Austria emerged from World War II with tremendous war-related destruction and a four-power occupation that would last ten years. In 1955 Austria regained her sovereignty; however, general affluence would not be realized until the 1960's and 1970's.

Rolf Steininger, co-editor

Volume 2: The Kreisky Era in Austria

This volume is dedicated to on of the country's greatest statesmen of the post-war period. Bruno Kreisky's career spans the turmoil that has confounded Austrian history throughout the 20th century. Through his Middle East detente, and third world initiatives, Kreisky achieved world-class status as a statesman. Oliver Rathkolb, co-editor

Volume 1: Austria in the New Europe

[CAS Volume 1]

This is the first first volume in the Contemporary Austrian Studies Series. The contents include: "Austria and Western European Integration after World War II", Oliver Rathkolb; "Austrian Neutrality and the Europe of 1992", Paul Luif; and "The Transformation of Austrian Society and the New Europe", G. Prisching.

Günther Bischof and Anton Pelinka, editors

Contemporary Austrian Studies

Volume 24: Austrian Federalism in Comparative Perspective

[Contemporary Austrian Studies]

With its ambiguous mix of weak federalist and strong centralist elements, the Austrian constitutional architecture has been subject to conflicting interpretations and claims from its very beginning. The written 1920 constitution has been paralleled by informal rules and forces making up for the imbalance of power between national and subnational authorities. Understanding these inherent weaknesses, virtually all political actors involved are well aware that reforming the allocation of rights and duties between the different levels in the federal state is urgently needed.