CERC Public Seminar: '“Austria First”: H.C. Strache, Austrian identity and the current politics of Austria’s Freedom Party'

Tuesday 23 Oct, 1:00-2:00pm
at Room 212, Level 2, 234 Queensberry Street, The University of Melbourne

presented by

Dr Emily Turner-Graham

(CERC Fellow/Deakin University)

Abstract

In 2005 Heinz-Christian Strache ascended to the FPÖ leadership, dismissed by many as being a “Haider clone”. Since then he has run aggressively fought electoral campaigns, standing on a virulently anti-Muslim platform, warded off persistant rumours of a neo-Nazi past and courted Austria’s youth through rap songs, ringtones and t-shirts. This paper will examine Strache’s policies and world-view and ask in what ways can Strache be compared with Jörg Haider? Is Strache, in his close collaboration with Andreas Mölzer, a threat to the notion of the European Union? What aspect of Austrian identity today does he represent? Is Strache the face of the new right in Austria, or indeed, of the new right in Europe?

Biography

Emily Turner-Graham’s PhD thesis is the first detailed cultural study of Nazi ideology as it was presented to the interwar Australian public. Her research interests include interwar fascisms in Germany, Britain and Australia, contemporary right wing activity in Austria and Germany and the politics of national identity in the European Union. She is currently teaching Australian Studies at Deakin University.