I can't help feeling concerned about Rose's alarmist tone,
which does not give any clear indication as to what is
supposed to be achieved by marinalising the Austrians -
scientists and people alike - in the proposed manner.
Personally, I think the dangers resulting from
international marginalisation outweigh the risks of holding
any scientific meeting in Austria - such a meeting may even
pose better opportunities for making a stance against
right-extremism in Austria than a meeting elsewhere.
Anyone who scans the Austrian media regularly may agree
with my caution against alarmist reactions to what looks
quite different from the inside of a still democratic
country. Arguably Haider's party gained votes not only
because of nationalist slogans, but also because of the
deep dissatisfaction with several legislative periods of a
coalition government of the same parties, and the patronage
system in public life. (A re-run of the 'old' coalition
may be more presentable internationally, but will do
nothing at all against Haider's rise - the opposite is most
likely and would be an unquestioned outcome, if
re-elections were called now. Dare I ask, what one would
like to tell the Austrians to do now?)
I think as social scientists, we would be well-advised to
'not ignore' the developments, as Rose suggests. We may,
however, be less well-advised to follow the not always
well-informed and agenda-free international panic over
them, which I don't recognise as particularly helpful to
Austrians of any political conviction right now.
Do our Austrian colleagues have a view on this?
Judith
On Sat, 29 Jan 2000 17:03:36 -0000 [log in to unmask] wrote:
> The possibility of the neo-nazi Haider becoming part of the Austrian
> government is one that social scientists, particularly those of us who live
> and work in Europe, cannot afford to ignore. Of course we must work in close
> collaboration with our Austrian colleagues but I believe that we should be
> considering very seriously whether we should refuse to attend meetings held
> in Austria if Haidar comes to office. In addition where meetings are
> already planned we should consider what we should and can do, can for
> example we relocate them in another country without neo-nazi's in the
> government? We know that the European Union is extremely concerned about
> this probable development, and it may be they would be be willing to assist
> relocation. Letting international social science meetings take place as if
> nothing important had happened offers a silent form of legitimation.
> Visiting Research Professor in Sociology, City University
> 4 LLOYD SQUARE
> London WC1X 9BA
> Tel +44.(0)171.713.1709
> Fax +44 (0)171.833.2563
>
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Judith Strobl
Research Fellow
University of Liverpool
United Kingdom
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