Austria Behind the Mask: Politics of a Nation since 1945

by Paul Lendvai

Austria has long been considered a European success a land-locked country on the losing side of World War Two, which emerged from ten years of post-war occupation as one of the EU's richest member-states, a symbol of social consensus and political independence at the heart of Europe. But in the 2020s, the forward march of the far-right populist FPÖ threatens the return of old extreme xenophobic racism, and economic and political instability.

The governing partnership between Austria's youngest-ever Chancellor and the extreme-right party lasted less than two years, but has left a wreckage of corruption scandals, including an ongoing investigation of fraud at the top. A cozy relationship with Russia, particularly President Putin, has cast a shadow over Austria's neutrality and reputation as a reliable EU partner. Belated confrontation of the Nazi past and the lingering legacy of the imperial nobility further muddy the waters, while the long decline of social democracy--the bedrock of post-war nation-building--has been equaled by the weak performance of the ruling conservative-green coalition, damaging trust in democracy.

Mixing personal memories with high political drama, Paul Lendvai reveals the knotted web of forces which have driven Austria to its current perilous state.

Genres: History

232 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2023

About the author

Paul Lendvai is a Hungarian-born Austrian journalist who worked as a correspondent for the Financial Times for more than two decades. He is the author of Hungary: Between Democracy and Authoritarianism; Inside Austria: New Challenges, Old Demons; and Blacklisted: A Journalist's Life in Central Europe.

Reviews

[Anuradha Sarup · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to Austrian politics post 1945 for non-German reading people. Having lived in Austria for some years now, but not yet fully comfortable with reading German, political undercurrents remain quite opaque for me. This book, written by a person who knew the people involved and was a close witness of many of the political developments of the country, is an ideal base to greater understanding.

I know I'll be reading more of his works. And works on some of the people mentioned by him.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an amazing book but as with everything from Paul Lendvai, quite readable. The problem is it’s more like a collection of news columns than a text, like what I was hoping to read, that would give a sense of Austria’s society, people, and the broader shifts that have been reflected at the ballot box in the era since 1945, rather than descriptions of cattle-dealing and individual personality quirks of those at the top.

[Stephen Morrissey · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Austria Behind the Mask" is an extremely insider-y account of modern Austrian politics. The drift of the country towards the clutches of far-right politicians like Sebastian Kurz offers a lesson to the rest of Europe and America for how such politics can skew society and lead to lasting national and international damage.