The Haider Phenomenon

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Austria does not often make political headlines. It has at least twice in recent years: in 1986, when the "Waldheim Affair" was debated worldwide, and in 1999, when the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) under Joerg Haider received 27 percent of the vote in national elections. Established by former Nazis for former Nazis, the FPOe entered the mainstream of Austrian politics when it became part of a coalition government. This volume explores whether its rise is a uniquely Austrian phenomenon or corresponds to broader social and political changes in Europe. Parallels to Haider's party can be found in other European countries. Its anti-immigration agenda and rhetoric are similar to those of the French FN, the Belgian Vlaams Bloc, and the Italian Lega Nord. And its anti-European Union posture is similar to the sentiments of the "anti-Maastrich" wing of the British conservative party. However, European reaction to the FPOe's rise derives not only from its policies, but its linkage to past suspicions that the Austrians have not learned the lessons of history as had the Germans. The FPOe's success strengthened that impression. In response, 14 European Union governments downgraded their bilateral relations with the Austrian government to a purely technical level. Although the sanctions were lifted in September 2000, the spotlight is still very much on Austria, and concern about the FPOe remains high. This important volume contains eleven chapters by internationally prominent scholars from a broad spectrum of the social sciences. Its cross-disciplinary approach provides perspective on the Haider phenomenon, its rhetoric, and its impact on daily life in Austria. It also analyzes the influence of right-wing populism on politics, culture, and society, and its implications in Austria as well as elsewhere in Europe. The Haider Phenomenon will be of interest to historians, political scientists, those in European studies, and scholars in contemporary political extremism.

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Ruth Wodak is distinguished professor and chair of discourse studies at Lancaster University. She has published widely in the areas of discourse studies, racism, and discrimination, including Discourse and Discrimination (with M. Reisigl), Racism at the Top (with T. van Dijk), and The Haider Phenomenon in Austria (with A. Pelinka). She is executive editor of The Journal of Language and Politics. Anton Pelinka is professor of political science at the University of Innsbruck (since 1975) and director of the Institute of Conflict Research in Vienna (since 1990). He has written extensively in the field of comparative European politics and democratic theory and is the author of Die keine Koalition, SPO-FPO1983-1986 and The De-Austrification of Austria: The Acceptance of Smallness.