Austria’s Neutrality Between Strategy and Identity

Authors

  • Marion Foster

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15203/4171.vol53.2024

Abstract

This paper explores explanations for the continued insistence on Austria’s neutrality in the face of a changing international environment. It argues that tensions between a specific Austrian role conception in international politics and the challenges of a changing international environment became particularly visible in the context of Austria’s application process for membership in the EC/EU. During this period, two broad narrative frames developed which continue to be present until today: on the one side, the minimization of the legal and political impact of neutrality, and on the other side the insistence on neutrality as a core principle of Austria’s grand strategy, albeit without concepts for an innovative neutrality policy. The article also suggests research approaches that may be amenable to stimulating qualitative public debate about neutrality.

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Published

2024-05-22