Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article examines the normalization of far-right politics in Austria. The main argument of the article is that the three ideological camps that define Austrian politics have transformed into hybrid forms under the influence of the rise of far-right ideology. Austria's political life has been shaped by three main camps since the end of World War II: the Socialists (SPÖ), the Conservatives (ÖVP), and the German nationalists (FPÖ). After World War II, far-right ideology, which was excluded from political life and surrounded by a security barrier (cordon sanitaire), gradually returned to the political arena. During this process, the FPÖ became a significant actor representing the far right and dominating Austrian politics. Although the FPÖ has been part of Austrian politics since its founding in 1956, the normalization of far-right political ideology in Austria began in earnest in 1986, when Jörg Haider assumed leadership of the party. Under his direction, the FPÖ significantly increased its electoral support, ultimately joining a coalition government in 2000. This study examines how mainstream parties in Austria, such as the SPÖ, ÖVP, and the Greens, adapted to far-right ideologies to maintain their vote shares and bases, leading to the emergence of a "hybrid-mixed" order in which the traditional ideological lines of the three camps have blurred. This study uses qualitative and historical analysis methods to examine the transformation and normalization of far-right politics in Austria through historical events, political developments, and party dynamics. In this context, the ideological and political transformations of Austria's mainstream political parties are critically analyzed through the statements of party leaders and officials, as well as party policies.
Source: Mevzu – Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi
Author: Enes Bayraklı
Institution: Türkisch-Deutsche Universität
Language: Turkish
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4407225964