Liberalism in Austria

This article gives an overview of liberalism in Austria. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.

1 Introduction
2 The timeline
3 Liberal leaders
4 Liberal thinkers
5 References
6 See also

[edit] Introduction

In the Austrian Empire a liberal current evolved in the nineteenth century. When the national question became more important in Austrian politics, the current evolved in nationalist direction and so disappeared as a liberal current. Later attempts to reorganize liberalism were unsuccessful. The tradition of being associated with Pan-Germanism was carried forward from Austria-Hungary into the Austrian Republic. The Freedom Party of Austria was founded in 1955, but was even in the beginning a problematic movement including both liberals (especially economic liberals) and German nationialists, including some former Nazis. The attraction of the party to some of its voters lay in its opposition to both the catholic clericalism of the Austrian People's Party and to the Marxism of the Social Democratic Party of Austria.

Liberal politicians gained control over the Freedom Party during the years from 1980 to 1986, when it was led by Norbert Steger. However, its participation in a coalition under socialist Chancellor Fred Sinowatz brought it to the verge of extinction, which allowed Jörg Haider to take control of the party in 1986. With the support of the remaining Pan-Germans (the appeal of whose own views has an equally small appeal to the Austrian electorate today), he transformed it into a right-wing populist, frequently xenophobic party. The Freedom Party was subsequently expelled from the Liberal International, and the remaining liberals seceded to found the Liberal Forum (Liberales Forum, member LI, ELDR) in 1993.

However, when the Liberal Forum lost its seats in parliament in 1999 and became a micro-party, liberalism effectively ceased to exist as a political force in Austria. Economic liberalism is now probably best represented by some factions of the conservative Austrian People's Party, while the Austrian Green Party holds the most liberal views on social issues.

Other small parties on the liberal spectrum include the Democrats and the Social Liberals.

[edit] The timeline

[edit] From Constitutional Party until German Progressive Party

1861: Liberals from various parliamentary factions united in the Constitutional Party (Verfassungspartei)
1873: A radical faction formed the ⇒ Progressive Club, a right-wing faction formed the conservative Constitutionalist Landlordism (Verfassungstreue Grossgrundbesitz)
1881: The Constitutional Party merged with the ⇒ Progressive Club into the United Left (Vereinigte Linke)
1885: The United Left fell apart in the liberal German Austrian Club (Deutsch-Österreichischer Klub) and the nationalist German Club (Deutscher Klub)
1888: The party merged with the moderate parts of the German Club into the United German Left (Verenigte Deutsche Linke)
1891: The Constitutionalist Landlordism merged into the party
1897: The party fell apart into the Constitutionalist Landlordism and the German Progressive Party (Deutsche Fortschrittspartei)
1911: The party merged into the nationalist German National League (Deutscher Nationalverband), liberal forces ceased to exits

[edit] Progressive Club

1873: A radical faction of the ⇒ Constitutional Party formed the Progressive Club (Fortschrittsklub)
1881: The party merged into the ⇒ United Left

[edit] Liberals in the diaspora

1949: After the formation of the pan-germanic nationalist Federation of Independents, liberals became active as a minority force in this party. After the merger into the Freedom Party of Austria this situation continued.

[edit] Liberal Forum

1993: Liberal dissidents inside the nationalist Freedom Party of Austria (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs), which was between 1980 and 1986 more or less a liberal controlled party, formed the Liberal Forum (Liberales Forum)