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Voices of Central and Eastern Europe Country report Austria Paul Schmidt, Stefan Schaller, Susan Milford - Faber www.globsec.org
About this report
Key findings
Introduction Key findings
Over the past few years, the European A new report by the GLOBSEC think tank As the Austrian partner within the project,
1
Union has coped with far-reaching political, (www.globsec.org) based in Bratislava the Austrian Society for European
economic and social changes and a string
of successive and sometimes overlapping
provides comprehensive insight into
public satisfaction with the functioning
Politics (Österreichische Gesellschaft für
Europapolitik / ÖGfE) helped to analyse
Considerable support for liberal democratic
crises. The financial and economic crisis,
refugee and migration flows and the
of democracy and governance, trust
in political actors and the media and
Austrian specific results and has compiled
the present country report that focuses on system but sobering view on everyday politics
Covid-19 pandemic all underscore both the predispositions towards conspiracy theories public opinion in the alpine country.2
extent to which our world is interconnected and misinformation in ten Central and
and the vulnerabilities of modern societies. Eastern European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Following the Second World War, Austria
2
Globalization, digitalization and an all- Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, developed into a stable liberal democracy
encompassing information age are indeed Poland, Romania and Slovakia. dominated over decades by two political Austrians see the domestic media landscape
providing an unending challenge to all. parties – the Conservatives and the Social
These major upheavals have particularly put
The surveys were conducted on a sample
ranging from 1,000 to 1,047 respondents
Democrats. In the late 1980s though, this
traditional political structure grew more
as largely free but trust is still only modest
open and liberal democratic societies to the using stratified multistage random sampling fragile with new contenders arising and
test. Questions about or relating to identity in the form of computer assisted personal shaping the public sphere – especially on the
are becoming more pronounced as many interviewing (CAPI) or computer-assisted right wing of the political spectrum. These
3
perceive threats to (traditional) values. These telephone interviewing (CATI). In all movements have drawn support from those
concerns have been reinforced by political
forces advocating for the reinvigoration of
countries, the profiles of the respondents
were representative of the country by
uncomfortable with societal developments
and apprehensive about their own place
Migration and Islam remain controversial issues
the nation state and alternative models to
the liberal democratic system.
gender, age, education, place of residence
and size of settlement.
in society. Compared to other surveyed
countries, Austrians, in fact, express high
in the societal and value discourse
esteem for liberal democracy. There are some
Central and Eastern Europe has been The GLOBSEC Report “Voices of Central warning signs, nevertheless, that need to be
particularly affected by these developments. Europe: Perceptions of democracy and further scrutinized.
4
In the case of Austria, objections to ongoing governance in 10 EU countries“ 1 contains a
changes in society find voice especially in
the Freedom Party (FPÖ), which has seen its
detailed comparative analysis of all country
results. 1
https://www.globsec.org/publications/voices-of-central-and-
Ambivalent relationship with
support rise, culminating in its participation
in government from 2017 until May 2019.
2
eastern-europe/
The collection of opinion polls in each country was coordinated
by FOCUS, s.r.o.
the European Union
5 Misinformation and conspiracy theories
resonate within certain groups of society –
Report
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
Austria
especially among those who are dissatisfied
Country
Slovakia report
with how democracy works in Austria
Voices of
Voices Central and
of Central Europe: Country
Eastern Europe:
and Eastern
2 33Satisfaction
Satisfaction with democracy
Satisfaction with democracy
with democracy Satisfaction with the way
democracy works in the country
* “very/rather satisfied”
** Rest to 100% = “Very/rather dissatisfied” or Don’t know/No answer”
A clear majority of Austrians (92 %) are leader who does not have to bother with those in rural regions are the only groups
in favor of “having a liberal democracy parliament or elections”. Support for liberal who are somewhat more inclined to support 86%
with regular elections and a multi-party democracy can be found in practically all a system centered around a “strong leader”
system”. On the other hand, 7 % would rather segments of the population. Respondents (and even then only around 10 % do so).
be governed by a “strong and decisive with a lower level of formal education and
Among the ten countries surveyed, Austrians are the strongest supporters of the liberal democratic system.
47% 47%
45%
Liberal democracy or strong, decisive leader? 42% 38%
36%
32%
Liberal democracy Strong and decisive leader *Rest to 100 % = “Don’t know/No answer” 30%
92% 18%
81%
Austria Czechia Poland Hungary Estonia Slovakia Latvia Lithuania Romania Bulgaria
66% 65%
60%
What are the reasons for Austrians’
50% 49% 49%
45%
strong support for democracy? Respondents in Bulgaria (59%)
43% and Slovakia (56%) are most likely
38% Austrians’ considerable satisfaction with of the people” than elected parliamentarians to agree with the statement
34% 35% 35%
democracy is shared among nearly all as mere representatives of the elite.3 The ”Who holds the power in the
demographic groups. It is based on the “illiberal system” like favoured by the Hungarian government does not matter,
26% 27%
24% historical experiences of the 20th century government has been cited as a role model nothing will change”.
and perceptions of Austria as a stable, by FPÖ representatives. However, turning
17% secure, socially and economically strong away from the multi-party system and free 84% believe that “Oligarchs
12% country with a generally high living standard, elections is not an option for Austrians - even if and strong financial groups
7% a reliable public administration and a system discontent with daily politics often runs high. have a strong control over the
that supports the reconciliation of interests government in Austria” (“strongly
A total of 43% of those surveyed agree with
and a robust social partnership. agree”: 49% | “rather agree”: 35%).
the statement ”Who holds the power in
Only in Slovakia do slightly more
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
Austria Hungary Poland Estonia Czechia Romania Slovakia Lithuania Latvia Bulgaria Democracy has been on the move in Austria the government does not matter, nothing
since the late 1980s; the predominance of will change” (“strongly agree”: 15% | “rather people believe that oligarchs and
the conservative ÖVP and Social Democrats agree”: 28%). financial groups exert a strong
(SPÖ), who at that time were able to influence on the government (85%).
A further 95% of Austrians are convinced that This opinion is weakest in Hungary
Satisfaction with the way democracy Satisfaction with democracy in
the other surveyed countries is
gain up to 90% of the vote, led to a rigid
political structure. The status quo has been
“people with contacts to political elites” are (39%).
given preferential treatment in society and
in Austria works is strong: 86% say that significantly lower and ranges
from between 47% in Czechia
dismantled by the rise of the Freedom Party
(FPÖ) and new political groups like the
80% think that this is also true for “people
who earn more”.
they are “very” (35%) or “rather” (51%) and Poland and 18% in Bulgaria. Greens and the liberal NEOS.
The number of those who trust political
satisfied. Only 13% are “very” or “rather” Besides Malta, Austria is the only country in the
EU where 16-year-olds are entitled to vote. In
parties (50%), meanwhile, is slightly higher
than those who express distrust (43%).
dissatisfied. recent years, however, the FPÖ has regularly
called for more direct democracy, arguing 3
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/23745118.201
that it would “better represent the interests 9.1632577
4 5Independence “ There is a
Independence of the media
Independence of the media
of the media remarkable
Eight in ten respondents think that “standard
mainstream media” in Austria is “completely
free” (18%) or “rather free” (62%). A total of
actors such as the church, NGOs, the United
States, Russia and “influential groups from
abroad” are mentioned much less often.
What they all have in common is that
they are co-owned by domestic media
tycoons, a phenomenon subject to broad
interplay in the
relationship
17%, meanwhile, are sceptical and doubt that public debate and media research. This
domestic media is free. In general, there is moderate trust in the media concentration is exacerbated by the
media. While 45% of respondents say that influence of major companies (e.g. Raiffeisen
Traditionally, freedom of the press in Austria they trust “standard mainstream media” in the case of daily “KURIER”) and large
ranks high compared with international peers. (“completely”: 6%| “rather”: 39%), a majority publisher groups (e.g. Styria Verlag) that
between politics
In recent years, however, a steady decline of 51% expresses distrust (“rather”: 42% | own several dailies and weekly and monthly
has been observed, as the annual ranking “completely”: 9%). magazines.
of Reporters Without Borders shows.4 Since
2018, Austria has dropped seven spots and is There is a remarkable interplay in the
In Austria, the role of high-
and tabloid media:
now in 18th place. relationship between politics and tabloid
circulation tabloid media is media: Tabloid media in particular are
When asked which actors exert the greatest somewhat special regularly fed government ads, with the
influence on the domestic media, 57% expectation of more benevolent reporting.
of respondents name “oligarchs and Austria’s print media market is among those There is conversely the fear of falling victim
Tabloid media
strong financial groups” and 47% “the with the highest media concentration in to a targeted negative media campaign
government”. Among those who consider Europe. The Austrian daily “Kronen Zeitung” should these ads disappear. Critical media,
the domestic media landscape to be “rather has a reach of 27% according to a 2019 on the other hand, are much less likely to
free” or “not free”, these percentages are analysis of Austrian media5 followed by receive this kind of government support.
significantly higher: 72% see influence on the the free newspaper “HEUTE” with 12% and
in particular are
part of oligarchs and financial groups and another tabloid, “ÖSTERREICH”, partly 4
http://www.rog.at/press-freedom-index/
60% from the government. Other potential published in a free version, at nearly 10%. 5
https://media-analyse.at/table/3349
Assessment of the media landscape
Those who trust in standard mainstream media Those who think that media are either rather or completely free
regularly fed
government
80%
77% 79%
75% 73%
ads, with the
64%
59%
58%
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
expectation of
50%
48%
45% 46% 45% 46%
44% 44%
more benevolent
39%
38% 38%
37% 37%
33%
25%
reporting”.
Lithuanua
Romania
Hungary
Slovakia
Bulgaria
Czechia
Estonia
Austria
Poland
Latvia
0%
6 7Values
began to seep in with respect to the capacity of Do the United States
Values and identity
Values and identity
Austrian society to integrate a large number of
people, primarily arriving from Muslim countries. and Western societies In all other surveyed countries,
the respective numbers are
threaten the values and significantly higher: In Slovakia,
and identity
Since December 2017, Austrian government
policy has been characterized by a sceptical identity of Austria? Bulgaria, and Estonia, a total of
39%, 36%, and 35% of respondents,
stance towards migration, notwithstanding
respectively, see those with a
the participation of the Greens in government This perception is partly rooted in history. In
different sexual orientation as a
beginning from January 2020. The fact that the post-war period, Austria always regarded
threat to domestic values and
asylum seekers are generally referred to as itself as part of the West but also as a neutral
identity. Czechs come closest to
economic migrants, rather than refugees, country in equidistance to the US and the
the Austrian view on the issue,
Alongside an increasingly globalizing world,
questions of identity and values have become “Migrants are a threat to our in the political discourse has left a notable
impact on public opinion. Austrians‘ attitudes
Soviet Union. Among those on the left-wing of
the political spectrum, scepticism towards the
meanwhile, with only 12% of
respondents identifying different
more prevalent in Austria, with certain groups
like migrants depicted as potential threats to
country’s identity and values” toward refugees and migrants have also been
influenced by tabloids and FPÖ and right-wing
US, including “anti-Americanism”, has always
been present, especially with regard to the
sexual orientations as a threat.
traditions and the “Austrian way of life”. social media platforms that regularly incite fury country’s global ambitions.
by disseminating reports that asylum seekers
are receiving more than their fair share of the American popular culture, however, has Perceptions of the
Perceptions of migrants 75 % 72 % 72 %
always found a receptive audience in Austria.
public purse in the form of social and housing
benefits and free mobile phones. Its omnipresence is, nevertheless, viewed
European Union
Four in ten respondents (42 %) are convinced by some, including particularly the elderly,
that migrants threaten Austrian identity and Though 21 % of Austrians perceive the
as a threat to local traditions rather than
values while 53 % do not recognize any such 56 %
52 %
Perceptions of the United an enriching contribution. The same is true
European Union as a threat to their values
50 % and identity, three in four (74 %) respondents
threat. 50 %
45 %
43 %
42 %
States and the West with respect to the many Americanisms and
do not agree with this notion, putting Austria
41 % Anglicisms that have found their way into
Another 41 % believe that migrants “are favoured in the middle of the 10 surveyed countries.
The United States of America is perceived as the German language. In general, the image
in our society” (53 % say “not favoured”). a threat by 36 % of Austrian respondents with of the United States has, moreover, suffered
Austrians have had an ambivalent relationship
59 % not identifying the US as a threat. significantly since Donald Trump took office
In the 10 countries surveyed, Austria ranks 25 % with the European Union. Since Austria joined
25 % as US president.
eighth, with only Romanian and Polish the EU in 1995, a consistent majority has been
Only 24 % of Austrian respondents, meanwhile,
respondents more vigorously rejecting the in favour of remaining a member. Moves to
say that “Western societies and their way of The debate about whether Austria’s identity
“migrants as threats” framing. In six survey deepen integration, however, are eyed with
is threatened by the Western way of life
Lithuania
living” are a threat to their country’s identity
Romania
Hungary
Bulgaria
Slovakia
Czechia
concern, apprehension fuelled by politicians
Estonia
Austria
Poland
countries, meanwhile, buy-in to this anti- Latvia while 73 % do not share this view. has been again reignited in recent years,
migrant sentiment was significantly higher. and tabloid mass media that turn to the
spearheaded particularly by the Freedom
In light of the fact that Austria has been
0% EU as a scapegoat for domestic problems.
While Hungarians (21%) and Poles Party that has turned to denouncing overly
significantly more impacted by migration and The EU is often portrayed as a complicated
(12%) are less likely to consider the US liberal and decadent patterns in society
refugee flows than other countries polled, bureaucratic construct that provides a
as a threat to their identity and values, and culture. As an alternative model, the
this is a particularly pertinent finding.6 space for large member states to dominate
Slovaks (53%) and Bulgarians (43%) FPÖ has suggested looking to the Visegrád
business. And decisions at the European
are the most likely to do. Group countries and to Russia, leading to
level are argued to often not reflect national
How are migrants being the signing of a friendship treaty with United
interests. The European Union is, furthermore,
Slovakia (50%) and Bulgaria (34%) Russia, the political party of Russian President
portrayed in the political First instance decisions on asylum are also the two countries with the Vladimir Putin.
seen as a motor and not a protection against
the negative repercussions of globalization,
discourse? applications - Total positive
greatest concern regarding Western
underlined by migration challenges that have
influence on their values and identity. On LGBT+ rights, only 4 % of Austrians
further stoked fears in recent years.
Four in ten respondents believe that
migrants “are favoured in our society”. This
decisions 2015 - 2019 In other countries surveyed, these
worries are much less pronounced.
believe that “people with different sexual
orientations” threaten domestic identity and 6
https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.
values. do?dataset=migr_asydcfsta&lang=en
perception is not a novel phenomenon 100 000
because migration was already met with
consternation in the 1990s, especially among
93 060
socio-economically disadvantaged groups,
as people fled from a Yugoslavia that was
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
75 000
50 % 45
then collapsing. These fears were particularly
fuelled by the Freedom Party under Jörg „ The European
Haider. Current attitudes, however, largely
reflect attitudes towards the 2015 refugee
and migration flows that saw Austria become 50 000 Union is a threat 35
31
28
one of the largest host countries (as a
to our country‘s 25 % 22 22
21
2085
9780
2570
1330
3710
percentage of its population) across the EU. 17 17
430
790
485
16
370
Initially, public opinion had been rather inclined
identity and
Lithuania
Romania
Hungary
Bulgaria
values“
Slovakia
Lithuania
Czechia
Austria
Estonia
25 000
Romania
Hungary
Slovakia
Poland
Bulgaria
Czechia
Estonia
Latvia
Austria
towards accepting refugees, particularly
Poland
Latvia
those fleeing the Syrian civil war. The political
0%
landscape, however, changed as concerns
regarding a perceived uncontrolled influx of
0
migrants became more paramount. Doubts also
8 9Conspiracy
Conspiracy theories & misinformation
Conspiracy theories & misinformation
theories and
misinformation
A lack of trust, insufficient transparency and support at only around 15%, many more and its portrayal as one of the most pressing
considerable levels of life dissatisfaction identify Islamization as a threat. While public domestic “problems”, which in turn has had
provide a conducive breeding ground for data indicates that, from 2001 to 2016, the notable consequences on Austrian public The acceptance of
the spread of conspiracy theories and number of Muslims in Austria doubled from opinion. conspiracy theories and
can also increase the susceptibility of a 4% to 8%, this “threat scenario” framing is Other theories find far less of a receptive
given population to disinformation. When indubitably overstated.8 audience: misinformation rises with
accompanied with turmoil, it is all too easy age and decreases with
to identify and galvanize the public against Since 2015, refugee and migration flows have Although 22% of respondents agree with
perceived threats. seen the arrival of predominantly Muslim the statement that “World affairs are not level of formal education.
A total of 43% of the survey sample indeed
migrants to Austria, some from regions home
to particularly conservative religious views
decided by elected leaders but by secret
groups aiming to establish a totalitarian
The rural population
“strongly” (12%) or “rather” (31%) believe that (e.g. Afghanistan) and social attitudes that world order” (7% “strongly agree” | is also more likely to
the “EU and Brussels dictate to Austria
what to do without Austria having a chance
deviate from Austrian practices (especially
with regard to gender roles and the position
15% “rather agree”), nearly seven in ten
respondents find this unfathomable (26%
find them credible than
to influence” its own policy direction. Just of religion in society). “rather disagree” | 43% “strongly disagree”). urbanites.
over half of respondents “rather” (28%) or
“strongly” (26%) disagree. Worries of Islamization are particularly
prevalent in rural regions despite lower Judged credible by 60% of Slovak
Conspiracy theories and
Four in ten Austrians, meanwhile, believe that proportions of Muslim residents and asylum respondents, highest in the ten misinformation are more
“Austrian society is undergoing a slow and seeks more generally. Adherents to the countries surveyed, Austrians,
secret Islamization” (17% “strongly agree” Islamization conspiracy theory express conversely, expressed the least common among those
| 24% “rather agree”) while about six in ten concern that Muslims are given preferential amount of buy-in to this claim. who:
hold opposing views (28% “rather disagree” | treatment by politicians in an attempt to lure
26% “strongly disagree”). them as future voters. Associations between • want a decisive and
terrorist attacks and Islamic fundamentalist Similarly, 21 % believe that “Jews have strong leader,
The survey findings indicate that these backgrounds have fundamentally shaped too much power and secretly control
two conspiratorial claims held the greatest public discussions and contributed to further governments and institutions around the • doubt that it makes a
preponderance of buy-in among those muddle. world” (7 % “strongly agree” | 15 % “rather difference who holds
tested. This can be explained by the fact that agree”) while three in four respondents power in government,
these sentiments are already prevalent and Over the past few years, debate has disagree (25 % “rather disagree” | 49 %
widely rehearsed in the political discourse. increasingly concentrated on the subject “strongly disagree”). • are not satisfied with
of Islam in general and the “fight against the way democracy
Why do people believe political Islam” more concretely. Exchanges
This conspiracy theory is also not
works in Austria.
on the challenges of long-term integration
that Austrian society is have only further fanned the flames with prevalent in Austria when compared
politicians seeking to demonstrate strength to the other nine countries. Only in
undergoing a slow and by pursuing a “symbolic policy”. In autumn Estonia are there fewer adherents
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
secret Islamization? 2019, the Austrian parliament approved a (16%). This belief, nonetheless, finds
ban on headscarves for girls in elementary a more receptive audience in Slovakia
The FPÖ, in particular, regularly campaigns school and an extension of this ban to also (60%) and Hungary (49%).
on this issue, stoking fears of an Islamization include teachers and the public sector has
of Austrian society (and Europe more been broached. In recent months, the ÖVP
broadly).7 Under this narrative, society has, moreover, proposed the introduction of
is encouraged to be irate in the face of protective custody, a move widely believed
supposed developments that will see both to be politically targeted towards elevating
the native Austrian population and adherents the issue of radical political Islam. This
7
https://de.reuters.com/article/us-austria-immigration-
idUSKCN1SB0C2
of Christianity become minorities in the emphasis has led to an overrepresentation 8
https://www.diepresse.com/5263601/zahl-der-muslime-in-
future. Although polls currently record FPÖ of the topic of “Islam” in the public sphere osterreich-seit-2001-verdoppelt
10 11Conclusions
Conspiracy theories & misinformation
Conspiracy theories & misinformation
Conclusions
Austria takes a special A series of crises and upheavals have
position among the ten contributed to the rise of populist
Authors
surveyed countries in movements and fostered social
Central and Eastern Europe polarization, a pattern that continues to
owing to its distinct political this day. Five years following the start
and social history in the of the refugee and migration crisis, this
decades following World issue is still highly charged in Austria.
War II. Commitment to liberal
democracy is, consequently, Paul Schmidt, Stefan Schaller, Susan Milford-Faber
comparatively strong. That
said, there are concerns Austrian Society for European Politics
within the population on the
degree to which external
influences shape politics and
on the perceived preferential
treatment of certain groups
in society.
Conspiracy theories and misinformation More information about the research GLOBSEC and the National
fall on fertile ground in Austria, albeit to can be found in the comparative Endowment for Democracy assume
a lesser extent than in other surveyed
Austrians’ relationship English version Voices of Central no responsibility for facts or opinions
countries. Certain demographic groups,
with the European Union though, are more susceptible than others. and Eastern Europe. expressed in this publication or their
remains ambivalent: subsequent use. Sole responsibility
Despite 25 years of Austrian This analysis was financially lies with the authors of this
membership, the number of supported by the National publication.
those who believe that the Endowment for Democracy as a
country has no say in the part of the project Strengthening www.globsec.org
Union is considerable. Public Diplomacy in Central Europe,
implemented by GLOBSEC.
© Austrian Society for European
Politics, 2020
www.oegfe.at
Political leaders must react proactively europa@oegfe.at
to developments and seek common
dialogue. A robust civil society must be
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
Voices of Central and Eastern Europe: Country report Austria
an indispensable partner in this process.
Original creative concept
12 13olus Tower II P +421 2 321 378 00 Vajnorská 100/B info@globsec.org 831 04 Bratislava Slovak Republic www.globsec.org
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