Austrian Nationalism vs Deutschmark Imperialism

[Menydh]

Parameters of a new Austrian nationalism

Independent Race and Refugee Network
December 1, 2006

With much publicity surrounding the antics of Umberto Bossi's separatist Northern League in Italy newspapers are increasingly focusing on the growth in regional nationalist movements throughout Europe.

How far such movements are defined by racism or extreme right-wing ideology is increasingly a subject of concern for the IRR Race Audit.

In terms of Austria, the question being asked is whether an anti-German Austrian nationalism is emerging, prompted by resentment at Germany's increasing economic and cultural influence.

'Deutschmark imperialism'

A 'Priority for Austria' sentiment is emerging, as German businesses are accused of 'Deutschmark imperialism' and taking over businesses in a new Anschluss. Whereas elderly Austrians may support a 'Greater Germany', they are in a minority as a separate Austrian nationalism grows.

According to the Austrian Economics Research Institute, the German economy completely dominates the Austrian internal market, with 40 per cent of imports and exports. Foreign investment of 30 billion schillings (£1.8 billion) is expected in Austria this year, just over 80 per cent coming from Germany. A series of German industrial takeovers has provoked working-class discontent. At the Semperil tyre factory south of Vienna, unionists were mobilising against the German parent firm, Continental, which has decided to close parts of the factory, halve the workforce and transfer production to the much cheaper Czech Republic.

Cultural imperialism

German cultural imperialism and 'appropriation' of leading Austrian artists has been debated by Austrian historians and intellectuals at a conference in Braunau, and by artists in Bonn. The common German language gives Germany a strong influence in literature, publishing, media and culture. Austria has no indigenous commercial television and the two state channels.


[source]

[Susano]

So... wait. If German companies use the system of free market Austria offers (and I am sure they do not so cocerted, but ratehr out of opportunity as they would in every other market), that is somehow already imperialism?

Bah, sounds rather like German-bashing to me, by those people who formed an own identity to whitewash and ignore their sins during the NS time!

[Menydh]

It doesn't sound like you are right. The article says that it is the elderly Austrians who would support another Anschluss. Or, are the young Austrian generations to be blamed for National Socialist times?

And well, you should know that there is such a things as economic imperialism.

I can't help but ask you, what kind of Leftist are you? How would you explain Left Nationalism?

[Susi]

Originally Posted by Susano

Bah, sounds rather like German-bashing to me, by those people who formed an own identity to whitewash and ignore their sins during the NS time!

Wasn't Hitler Austrian...?

[Menydh]

I think that he was a Bavarian?

[Aptrgangr]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

I think that he was a Bavarian?

He was Austrian by passport (changed later since German officials required a German passport to run for elections) - being Austrian and German at the same time is no contradiction. The ancestors of most Austrians are Bavarians, except those in the very west that originate from the Alamanni (- and Slavs), so very most Austrians genetically are Germans.

[Susano]

Yes, Hitler was Austrian. The % of NSDAP member was higher in Austria then in the "Altreich". There were just as many Austrians in the Wehrmacht and SS as there were other Germans, and that included the officer corps. Austria was actively part of Nazi Germany.

However, after the war, they began to present themselves as "Hitler's first victim", to sever themself from all guilt. Hypocriet and disgusting, I say. That is the source of Austrian national identity - before, they had a German national identity, but they discarded that to whitewash their sins.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

being Austrian and German at the same time is no contradiction. The ancestors of most Austrians are Bavarians, except those in the very west that originate from the Alamanni (- and Slavs), so very most Austrians genetically are Germans.

I don't think that it is correct to speak of a German genetic type. See the map.



Red: R1b (western)
Yellow: R1a (easter)
Purple: I (northern)

The three haplogroups exist in significant degree.

Probably Bavarian and Austrian are closer to each other. Pred. R1a perhaps?

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Susano

However, after the war, they began to present themselves as "Hitler's first victim", to sever themself from all guilt. Hypocriet and disgusting, I say. That is the source of Austrian national identity - before, they had a German national identity, but they discarded that to whitewash their sins.

That's not quite right. You forget the Vaterländische Front and Austrofaschismus.

[Susano]

That's not quite right. You forget the Vaterländische Front and Austrofaschismus.

With their what? Around 2% to 5% of support in the population?

Even before Hitler, teh singe Austrian states held referduna about Austria joining Germany. Of course, due to allied dictate they had no power, but they were held, fair and demcoratcially and thus give a good picture of Austrian mentality back then. The results were always over 90% or even 95% for reunifcation with Germany.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Susano

With their what? Around 2% to 5% of support in the population?

Would a higher percentage mean that there exists an Austrian national sentiment?

[Susano]

Of course an Austria national sentiment existed. It would also exist if it were just 4 people thinking so. However, with such small numbers, its simply irrelevant, and thus not really a counter-argument for my original argument.

[Menydh]

It wasn't intended as a counter-argument anyway. Just pointing to some small error of perceptions of yours.

[M.R.]

Since when are Austrians a nation?

"Austrians" = Germans, though they have a lot of Slovenian blood, particularly in southern Austria.

[Susi]

Since they had their own constitution and stuff I guess?

[Menydh]

It is not that clear. It depends on what is used to define a German nation: ethno-racial identity, ethno-cultural identity.. or just language identity?

[M.R.]

I define nation in terms of ethnicity.

Btw I was already discussing this on some other forum - the term nation in English can have different meanings, in Slovenian language, nation is 'narod' which is identical to German Volk. That means a group of people and not a state.