Changes

|president=Heinz FischerAlexander Van der Bellen |chancellor=Werner FaymannKarl Nehammer

|pop=89,332000,000(2020) |pop-basis=2007 |gdp=$373.6 Billion435,000,000,000 (2020) |gdp-year=2007 (estimate) |gdp-pc=$4448,890 333 (2020)

The '''Republic of Austria''' is a landlocked country in central [[central Europe]]. The capital of Austria is [[Vienna]]. The primary language of Austria is [[German language|German]]of which is was a part from 1938 to 1945.

==People== Austrians are a homogeneous people; 91% are native German speakers. However, there has been a significant amount of immigrants, particularly from former Yugoslavia and Turkey, over the last two decades. Only two numerically significant autochthonous minority groups exist--18exist—18,000 Slovenes in [[Carinthia]] (south central Austria) and about 19,400 Croats in Burgenland (on the Hungarian border). The Slovenes form a closely-knit community. Their rights as well as those of the Croats are protected by law and generally respected in practice. Some Austrians, particularly near Vienna, still have relatives in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. About 74% of all Austrians are Roman Catholic. The church abstains from political activity. Small Lutheran minorities are located mainly in Vienna, Carinthia, and Burgenland. Small Islamic (immigrant) communities have arisen in Vienna and Vorarlberg.

*Education: Years compulsory--9compulsory—9. Attendance--99Attendance—99%. Literacy--98Literacy—98%.*Health (2007): Infant mortality rate--3rate—3.6 deaths/1,000. Life expectancy--men expectancy—men 77.4 years, women 82.9 years.*Work force (2007, 4.2 million): Services--67Services—67%; agriculture and forestry--5forestry—5%, industry--28industry—28%.

[[File:Austria Telfs-Moschee.jpg|thumb|left|A Mosque in Telfs, Austria.]]Since 2000 Austria has experienced some immigration from countries such as Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which increased the number of Muslims. The Muslim community more than doubled between 1991 and 2001 to 339,000, or 4.2% of the population. Estimates for 2007 indicate that there are approximately 400,000 Muslims in the country. In recent reporting periods immigration has slowed down due to the gradual introduction of a quota system in the late 1990s.<ref> According to [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108434.htm U.S. State Department, "International Religious Freedom Report 2008"]</ref>

The Federal Assembly (Parliament) consists of two houses--the houses—the National Council (Nationalrat), or lower house, and the Federal Council (Bundesrat), or upper house. Legislative authority resides in the National Council. Its 183 members serve for a maximum term of four years in a three-tiered system, on the basis of proportional representation. The National Council may dissolve itself by a simple majority vote or the president may dissolve it on the recommendation of the Chancellor. The nine state legislatures elect the 62 members of the Federal Council for 5- to 6-year terms. The Federal Council only reviews legislation passed by the National Council and can delay but not veto its enactment.

*Federal President--Heinz Fischer President—[[Alexander Van der Bellen]]*Federal Chancellor--Werner FaymannChancellor—[[Brigitte Bierlein]]*Vice Chancellor--Joseph PröllChancellor—Clemens Jabloner*Foreign Minister--Michael Spindelegger President of the Federal Council—Karl Bader*Ambassador to Vice Presidents of the United States--Christian ProslFederal Council—Magnus Brunner and Hubert Koller*Ambassador to President of the National Council—Wolfgang Sobotka*Second President of the National Council—Doris Bures*Third President of the United Nations--Thomas Mayr-HartingNational Council—Anneliese Kitzmüller

Since [[World War II]], Austria has enjoyed political stability. A Socialist elder statesman, Dr. Karl Renner, organized an Austrian administration in the aftermath of the war, and the country held general elections in November 1945. All three major parties--the conservative parties—the [[Austrian People's Party ]] (OVPÖVP), the Socialists (later [[Social Democratic Party (Austria)|Social Democratic Party ]] or SPOSPÖ), and [[Communists--governed ]]—governed until 1947, when the Communists left the government. The ÖVP then led a governing coalition with the SPÖ that governed until 1966.

Between 1970 and 1999, the SPO SPÖ governed the country either alone or with junior coalition partners. In 1999, the OVP ÖVP formed a coalition with the [[right -wing, populist ]] [[Freedom Party of Austria]] (FPÖ), which had dramatically increased in size under the leadership of [[Jörg Haider]]. The SPÖ, which was the strongest party in the 1999 elections, and the Greens formed the opposition. The FPÖ had gained support because of [[populist ]] tactics, and many feared the [[liberal]] and [[globalist]] [[establishment]] strongly opposed it for its political incorrectness, claiming it would represent somehow represented "right -wing extremism. " As a result, the [[European Union ]] (EU) imposed a series of sanctions on Austria. The [[United States|U.S. ]] and [[Israel]], as well as various other countries, also reduced contacts with the Austrian Government. Israel even recalled its ambassador to Vienna for three years because the FPÖ joined the coalition.<ref>Keinon, Herb (December 19, 2017). [https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/For-now-Israel-wont-deal-with-far-right-Austrian-Freedom-Party-ministers-518447 For Now, Israel Won't Deal with Far-Right Austrian Freedom Party Ministers]. ''The Jerusalem Post''. Retrieved February 7, 2018.</ref> After a period of close observation, the EU lifted sanctions, and the U.S. revised its contacts policy. In the 2002 elections, the OVP ÖVP became the largest party, and the FPÖ's strength declined by more than half. Nevertheless, the OVP ÖVP renewed its coalition with the FPÖ in February 2003. In national elections in October 2006, the SPÖ became the largest party, edging the OVPÖVP. On January 11, 2007, an SPOSPÖ-led Grand Coalition took office, with the ÖVP as junior partner.

The Social Democratic Party traditionally draws its constituency from blue- and white-collar workers. Accordingly, much of its strength lies in urban and industrialized areas. In the 2006 national elections, it garnered 35.3% of the vote. In the past, the SPO SPÖ advocated state involvement in Austria's key industries, the extension of social security benefits, and a full-employment policy. Beginning in the mid-1980s, it shifted its focus to free market-oriented economic policies, balancing the federal budget, and European Union membership.

The People's Party advocates conservative financial policies and privatization of much of Austria's nationalized industry. It finds support from farmers, large and small business owners, and some lay Catholic groups, mostly in the rural regions of Austria. In 2006, it received 34.3% of the vote. The Greens won 11.1% of the vote in 2006, becoming the third-largest party in parliament. The rightist Freedom Party traditionally had a base in classic European liberalism. However, after losing much of its support in the 2002 elections and suffering a split, the FPO won slightly more of the vote in 2006--112006–11%--than it did in 2002, due to a populist, anti-immigration theme. The Alliance-Future-Austria (BZÖ) split from the FPÖ in 2005. All the FPÖ's Federal Ministers and most of its parliamentarians joined the BZÖ, and that party formally became the junior partner in the governing coalition. The BZO was unable to draw significant popular support away from the FPÖ, but managed to enter parliament in 2006 with 4.1% of the vote. After Haider's death, the BZÖ shifted towards the political center, and in 2010, many of its members rejoined the FPÖ.<ref>Smith, Reiss (September 22, 2016). [https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/713318/freedom-party-austria-fpo-anti-eu-europe-Norbert-Hofer What is the Freedom Party of Austria? The anti-EU party that could win Austria's election]. ''Daily Express''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> In the first round of the 2016 Austrian presidential election, FPÖ candidate [[Norbert Hofer]] received 35.1 percent of the vote, which at the time was the party's best result in a national election in history.<ref>Troianovski, Anton (April 25, 2016). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/european-right-gets-boost-from-austrian-freedom-party-victory-1461598555 European Right Gets Boost From Austrian Freedom Party Victory]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> Although Hofer lost the run-off election by less than one percentage point, Austria's Constitutional Court ordered a re-run of the election due to irregularities in mail-in ballots.<ref>Troianovski, Anton (June 1, 2016). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/austrian-court-orders-rerun-of-presidential-vote-1467369788 Austrian Court Orders Rerun of Presidential Vote]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrievd December 17, 2016.</ref> The election was eventually postponed until December 4, 2016.<ref>Connolly, Kate (September 12, 2016). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/12/austria-presidential-election-rerun-to-be-postponed-faulty-glue-ballot-papers Austrian presidential election postponed due to faulty glue]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref><ref>Tomlinson, Chris (September 13, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/09/13/fpo-austrian-election-delay-embarrassment/ Freedom Party Calls Austrian Election Delay An ‘Embarrassment’]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> Although Hofer lost the election, being defeated by leftist Green Party candidate [[Alexander Van der Bellen]], the party vowed to fight on.<ref>Oliphant, Roland; Cseko, Balazs (December 4, 2016). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/05/time-comes-says-defiant-austrian-far-right-freedom-party-claims/ Austrian far-right defiant as Freedom Party claims 'pole position' for general election: 'Our time comes']. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> After the 2017 parliamentary elections, the FPÖ formed a coalition deal with the ÖVP and was able to take several key government agencies, including the interior and defense ministries.<ref>Multiple references:*Korolyov, Alexei (December 21, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/21/nazi-party-offshoot-rises-austria/ Austria’s far right takes power with little fanfare in altered political climate]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved December 21, 2017.*Atkins, Ralph; Khan, Mehreen (December 17, 2017). [https://www.ft.com/content/4608e324-e26a-11e7-97e2-916d4fbac0da Far-right Freedom party enters Austrian government]. ''Financial Times''. Retrieved December 21, 2017.*[https://www.thelocal.at/20171216/nothing-to-fear-as-austrian-far-right-enters-government 'Nothing to fear' as Austrian far-right enters government]. ''The Local''. December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.*[https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/16/kurzs-austrian-conservatives-bring-far-right-into-government.html Kurz's Austrian conservatives bring far right into government]. ''CNBC'' (from ''Reuters''). December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.*Tomlinson, Chris (December 16, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/12/16/austrian-populists-enter-government-first-time-since-2005-taking-several-key-ministries/ Austrian Populists Enter Government For First Time Since 2005, Taking Several Key Ministries]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 21, 2017.</ref>

The 1955 Austrian State Treaty ended the four-power occupation and recognized Austria as an independent and sovereign state. In October 1955, the Federal Assembly passed a constitutional law in which "Austria declares of her own free will her perpetual neutrality." The second section of this law stated that "in all future times Austria will not join any military alliances and will not permit the establishment of any foreign military bases on her territory." The date on which this provision passed--October 26--became passed—October 26—became Austria's National Day. From then, Austria shaped its foreign policy on the basis of neutrality.

Austrian leaders emphasize the unique role the country plays both as an Easta trans-West European hub and as a moderator between industrialized and developing countries. Austria is active in the United Nations and experienced in UN peacekeeping efforts. It attaches great importance to participation in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and other international economic organizations, and it has played an active role in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Austria has participated in the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 2002. In August 2005, Austria deployed 93 soldiers to the northern Afghan city of Kunduz to help support the parliamentary and provincial elections. Austria has also participated in international reconstruction assistance efforts and has provided about 8.5 million euros since 2002 to combat drugs, to strengthen women's rights and for mine removal.

Austria traditionally has been active in "bridge-building to the east," increasing contacts at all levels with eastern [[Central Europe ]] and the states of the former Soviet Union[[Russia]]. Austrians maintain a constant exchange of business representatives, political leaders, students, cultural groups, and tourists with the countries of central and eastern [[Central Europe]] and [[Russia]]. Austrian companies are active in investing and trading with those countries as well. In addition, the Austrian Government and various Austrian organizations provide assistance and training to support the changes underway in the region.

*Agriculture (1.9% of 2007 GDP): Products--livestockProducts—livestock, forest products, grains, sugarbeets, potatoes.*Industry (31.2% of 2007 GDP): Types--iron Types—iron and steel, chemicals, capital equipment, consumer goods.

*Trade (2007): Exports--$156.4 billion: iron and steel products, timber, paper, textiles, electrotechnical machinery, chemical products, foodstuffs. Imports--$155.9 billion: machinery, vehicles, chemicals, iron and steel, metal goods, fuels, raw materials, foodstuffs. Principal trade partners--European partners—European Union, Switzerland, U.S., and China.

Austria has a strong labor movement. The Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) comprises constituent unions with a total membership of about 1.2 million--about million—about 31% of the country's wage and salary earners. Since 1945, the ÖGB has pursued a moderate, consensus-oriented wage policy, cooperating with industry, agriculture, and the government on a broad range of social and economic issues in what is known as Austria's "social partnership." The ÖGB opposed the Schüssel government's program for budget consolidation, social reform, and fiscal measures that favor entrepreneurs. However, because of a scandal involving a bank the ÖGB owned, the ÖGB lost much of its political influence in the SPÖ.

Austrian farms, like those of other west European mountainous countries, are small and fragmented, and production is relatively expensive. Since Austria became a member of the EU in 1995, the Austrian agricultural sector has been undergoing substantial reform under the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP). Although Austrian farmers provide about 80% of domestic food requirements, the agricultural contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) has declined since 1950 to about 2%.

Trade with other EU-27 countries accounts for about 73% of Austrian imports and exports. Expanding trade and investment in the new EU members of central and eastern [[Central Europe ]] that joined the EU in May 2004 and January 2007 represent a major element of Austrian economic activity. Austrian firms have sizable investments in and continue to move labor-intensive, low-tech production to these countries. Although the big investment boom has waned, Austria still has the potential to attract EU firms seeking convenient access to developing markets in central and eastern [[Central Europe ]] and the Balkan countries.

Although never unchallenged, the Habsburgs [[Habsburg]]s ruled Austria for nearly 750 years. Through political marriages, the Habsburgs were able to accumulate vast land wealth encompassing most of Central Europe and stretching even as far as the Iberian Peninsula. During the 16th Century, the Ottoman Empire gained strength and in 1529, the Ottoman army surrounded Vienna. The Habsburgs held their ground and the Ottomans retreated, to return again in 1683. This time, Vienna was successfully defended by Polish King [[John III Sobieski|Jan Sobieski III]]. To this day Austrians are still proud of defending their territory from the invading Ottomans.

Habsburg rule in Europe was particularly unsettled in the 18th and 19th Centuries, when various wars were fought over their landholdings. Emperor Charles VI (1711-17401711–1740) and his daughter Maria Theresa (1740-17801740–1780) ruled the Empire during these tumultuous times. Maria Theresa was only able to take the throne as a result of the Pragmatic Sanction, which allowed a female to ascend when there was no male heir. She became a great reformer within the Empire, advocating many changes, most notably in the educational system. Maria Theresa's son Josef II (1780-17901780–1790) continued many of her reforms and he himself has been described as an enlightened absolutist.

In the years leading up to the Nazi period, Austria experienced sharpening political strife among the traditional parties, which since 1918 had created their own paramilitary organizations. By the late 1920s and early 1930s, these organizations were engaged in strikes and violent conflicts. Unemployment rose to an estimated 25%. In line with similar trends among other Central European countries, a corporatist and authoritarian government came into power in Austria under Engelbert Dollfuss, who abolished existing political parties and Austria's Constitutional Court. The Social Democrats, now excluded from the political process, took up arms, and a brief civil war ensued in February 1934. Austrian National Socialists (NS) launched an unsuccessful coup d'etat état in July 1934 and murdered Dollfuss. The Nazi leaders were, however, arrested, tried, and received death sentences. Following this unsuccessful coup, the Austrian President asked an ultra-conservative Christian Social leader, Kurt Schuschnigg, to form a government. Like Dollfuss, Schuschnigg sought to appease his neighbors and, at the same time, obtain support from Britain and France against pressures from Hitler's Germany, but without success due to the authoritarian trends in Austria and Austria's poor image in the Westreputation. In February 1938, under renewed threats of military intervention from Germany, Schuschnigg was forced to accept Austrian National Socialists (Nazis) in his government. On March 12, Germany sent its military forces into Austria, an action that received enthusiastic support among most Austrians, and Schuschnigg was forced to resign. He and many other political leaders were arrested and imprisoned until 1945.

The dissolution of the Austrian Empire and consequent loss of territory following World War I, as well as the political strife of the 1930s, set the stage on March 13, 1938, for Germany's Anschluss ("Annexation") of Austria and the beginning of the Nazi period, the darkest chapter in Austria's history, during which most of the Jewish population of the country was murdered or forced into exile. Other minorities, including the Sinti and Roma, homosexuals, and many political opponents of the Nazis also received similar treatment. Prior to 1938, Austria's Jewish population constituted 200,000 persons, or about 3 to 4 percent of the total population. Most Jews lived in Vienna, where they comprised about 9 percent of the population. Following the Anschluss, the Germans rapidly applied their anti-Jewish laws in Austria. Jews were forced out of many professions and lost access to their assets. In November 1938, the Nazis launched the Kristallnacht pogrom in Austria as well as in Germany. Jewish businesses were vandalized and ransacked. Thousands of Jews were arrested and deported to concentration camps. Jewish emigration increased dramatically. Between 1938 and 1940, over half of Austria's Jewish population fled the country. Some 35,000 Jews were deported to the Ghettos ghettos in Eastern [[Central Europe]]. Some 67,000 Austrian Jews (or one-third of the total 200,000 Jews residing in Austria) were sent to concentration camps. Those in such camps were murdered or forced into dangerous or severe hard labor that accelerated their death. Only 2,000 of those in the death camps survived until the end of the war.

====referencesReferences====

*[https://archive.ph/AjOBE#selection-2871.0-2871.45 The Untold Story of Vienna’s Global Influence] *[http://www.aipnews.com/talk/forums/printer-friendly.asp?tid=12514&mid= Austria 1938 by [[Kitty Werthmann]]. Eye witness Eyewitness account of Nazi takeover of Austria, and its ways and means].  {{European Union}} [[Category:Austria]][[Category:Austrian History]]

[[Category:EU MembersChristian-Majority Countries]]