White Supremacists In Austria: A Growing Concern?

Austria has a history of far-right political parties with links to white supremacist ideologies. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), founded by former Nazis in the 1950s, has been criticised for its xenophobic and racist rhetoric, with opponents accusing it of using antisemitic tropes. The Austrian government has taken steps to combat racism and xenophobia, both internally and in collaboration with international organisations like the UN and EU. Despite these efforts, incidents of racism persist, as illustrated by Imoan Kinshasa's experience of racial abuse in Austria, which she shared on social media.

The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ)

The FPÖ was founded in 1956 as the successor to the Federation of Independents (VdU), representing pan-Germanists and national liberals. Its first leader, Anton Reinthaller, was a former Nazi functionary and SS officer, but the party did not advocate far-right policies and presented itself as a centrist party. The party was long the third largest in Austria, with modest support. Under the leadership of Norbert Steger in the early 1980s, it sought to style itself on Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP).

In 1986, Jörg Haider became leader of the party, and it began an ideological turn towards right-wing populism. This resulted in a strong surge in electoral support, but also led to the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) breaking ties. In the 1999 election, the FPÖ won 26.9% of the vote, becoming the second-most popular party. The FPÖ has since fluctuated in popularity, but in the 2024 election, it won 28.85% of the votes cast, and is now the largest of five parties in the National Council.

The FPÖ has been accused by the Austrian Mauthausen Committee of being involved in right-wing extremism and possessing a neo-Nazi ideology. The party has been described as racist, authoritarian, and anti-immigrant. It has also been criticised for its use of Nazi terminology, such as "Volkskanzler" and "Volksgemeinschaft".

The FPÖ's ideology has been described as a combination of nationalism and libertarianism. It has supported regulated liberalism with privatisation and low taxes, while also advocating for the welfare state. The party has been critical of immigration and Islam, and has promoted anti-immigration and anti-Islam policies. It has also been eurosceptic, opposing Austria's joining of the EU and the replacement of the Austrian schilling with the euro.

The FPÖ has had a significant impact on Austrian politics, and has influenced the country's political culture. It has joined coalitions with other parties, including the SPÖ and the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). However, its participation in government has also led to international criticism and sanctions.

The Identitarian Movement

In Austria, the Identitarian Movement is known as the "hipster right." It has gained prominence through media-friendly tactics and street activism, imitating the strategies of leftist groups. The Austrian branch is led by Martin Sellner, a former neo-Nazi and mentee of Holocaust denier Gottfried Küssel. Sellner has a significant online presence, with over 90,000 YouTube subscribers and 16,000 Telegram followers. He has authored "The Art of Redpilling," a manual that provides instructions for step-by-step far-right radicalisation.

The Austrian Identitarians have staged various attention-grabbing stunts, such as dressing a statue of Empress Maria Theresa in a niqab and storming a theatre production performed by refugees. They advocate for a homogeneous (white) Europe and spread conspiracy theories about an Islamic conspiracy to replace Europe's white population, known as the "great replacement" theory. This theory is based on inflated statistics and unsubstantiated demographic projections.

The Austrian government has considered dissolving the group due to its extremist ideology and potential links to violent attacks, such as the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand. The movement has faced scrutiny from security forces, policymakers, and tech firms for spreading violence-inciting messages and exploiting legal loopholes to avoid censorship.

Anti-racism efforts in Austria

Austria has been taking steps to address racism and discrimination through legislative and educational measures. Here is an overview of some key anti-racism efforts in the country:

Legislative Measures

Austria has strengthened its legal framework to combat racism and discrimination. The Austrian Federal Constitution guarantees equal rights and dignity for all citizens, and the country is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This convention calls on states to take active measures to eliminate discrimination based on colour or ethnic origin. Austria has also transposed European Union (EU) directives on anti-discrimination into its administrative and civil law.

Non-Legislative Measures

Austria has also implemented non-legislative measures to address racism and xenophobia. These include initiatives in the fields of education, training, and awareness-raising. The country plans to develop a "National Action Plan for Human Rights" and a "comprehensive Strategy to Prevent and Combat All Forms of Racism, Xenophobia, Radicalisation, and Violent Extremism" during the XXVII legislative period (2020-2024). Additionally, Austria is a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and has adopted its working definition of antisemitism.

Civil Society Efforts

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Austria are actively advocating for the implementation of anti-racism measures. For example, the Black Voices petition calls for a referendum on anti-racism and the implementation of a National Action Plan against Racism (NAPAR). However, these organisations and individuals face significant levels of institutional harassment and attacks.

International Cooperation

Austria actively engages with international organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to combat racism and promote concrete outcomes during conferences and meetings. The country also supports the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), which provides recommendations to EU institutions and member states on human rights compliance during policy development and legislation.

Political Discourse

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has publicly denounced white supremacist ideologies, stating that they have "no place in our country." He affirmed the government's commitment to addressing dangerous ideologies, regardless of their origin.

While Austria has made strides in combating racism, challenges remain. Some political parties have been accused of promoting anti-Muslim sentiment and targeting refugees with discriminatory policies and rhetoric. Additionally, racial profiling of Black and Muslim individuals, as well as the refugee population, has been on the rise.

The Austrian government's stance on white supremacy

The Austrian government has taken a strong stance against white supremacy and far-right nationalism. In 2019, Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz stated that there was "no tolerance for dangerous ideologies, no matter where they originate. Such a phenomenon has no place in our country." This statement was made in reference to the Austrian branch of the Identitarian Movement, a far-right group that has been accused of inspiring the Christchurch shootings in New Zealand. The Austrian authorities have taken steps to investigate and disrupt this group, including seizing the electronic devices of one of its figureheads, Martin Sellner.

Austria has a history of combating racism and xenophobia, both internally and through its involvement in international organizations. The principle of equality is enshrined in Article 7 of the Austrian Federal Constitution, and the country has adopted comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that is constantly being improved. Austria is also a state party to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which calls on states to take concrete measures to combat discrimination based on colour or ethnic origin.

In recent years, however, there has been a shift towards the far-right in Austrian politics. In 2017, the far-right Freedom Party joined a coalition government with the conservative People's Party, and has proposed cutting welfare payments for foreigners and making it harder for refugees to become citizens. The Freedom Party has also been linked to the Identitarian Movement, with several of its representatives taking part in rallies and protest actions organized by the group.

Despite this shift, the Austrian government has continued to speak out against far-right extremism. In 2024, Austrian president Alexander Van der Bellen tasked the incumbent chancellor, Karl Nehammer, with forming a new government after the Freedom Party failed to find a coalition partner. Van der Bellen, a former leader of the Greens, has long vocally opposed the far right and cited concerns about Austria's democracy, the rule of law, and the Freedom Party's proximity to right-wing extremist groups as reasons for his decision.

The prevalence of racism in Austria

Austria has been taking active measures to combat racism and xenophobia, both internally and as part of international organisations. However, the country has also witnessed the rise of far-right political parties with xenophobic and racist agendas, as well as incidents of everyday racism experienced by racial minorities.

International Commitments

Austria is a signatory to several international conventions aimed at eliminating racial discrimination. As a state party to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 1965, Austria is committed to taking concrete measures to combat discrimination based on colour or ethnic origin. Additionally, the country actively participates in conferences and meetings within the United Nations and other international organisations to address racism and promote concrete and constructive outcomes.

Internal Measures

Austria has strengthened criminal protection against discrimination and hate crimes in recent years. The principle of equal treatment is enshrined in the Austrian Constitution, upon which comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation has been adopted and continuously improved. The implementation of EU Guidelines on anti-discrimination legislation in administrative and civil law has further bolstered Austria's commitment to fighting racism.

In addition to legislative measures, Austria has also implemented non-legislative initiatives, particularly in the fields of education, training, and awareness-raising. The existing National Action Plan Integration aims to increase and strengthen these measures. Furthermore, the Austrian government programme for 2013-2018 includes the development of a general National Action Plan on Human Rights, signalling the country's ongoing commitment to advancing human rights and addressing racism.

Far-Right Politics

Despite these efforts, Austria has seen the rise of far-right political parties, such as the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), which has been criticised for its xenophobic, racist, and Islamophobic agenda. The FPÖ has sought to capitalise on Europe's migration crisis and has proposed dramatic overhauls of Austria's immigration system, including the detention of new arrivals and the "remigration" of "unwanted strangers". The party's manifesto calls for a return to Austria's "cultural identity and social peace" through homogeneity rather than diversity.

The FPÖ's leader, Herbert Kickl, has been branded a "right-wing extremist" and a neo-Nazi" by opponents. The party has also faced accusations of using antisemitic tropes and having ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the FPÖ has faced challenges in forming coalition governments due to its vilification by other major political groups, its influence remains a concern for many.

Everyday Racism

In addition to the political sphere, racial minorities in Austria continue to face everyday racism and abuse. For example, a black German woman, Imoan Kinshasa, recounted her experiences of racial abuse in Austria, including being insulted with the "N-word" by youths and facing stares and insults while wearing a traditional dirndl dress at a wine festival near Vienna. Incidents like these highlight the ongoing prevalence of racism in Austria, particularly in small towns, as noted by Kinshasa.

In conclusion, while Austria has made significant efforts to combat racism through international commitments and internal measures, the country continues to grapple with the rise of far-right politics and the persistent issue of everyday racism experienced by racial minorities.

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