Austria's Interest In South Tyrol: A Continuing Affair?

The question of whether Austria still wants South Tyrol is a complex one, with historical, cultural, and political dimensions. South Tyrol, an autonomous Italian province, was part of the Austro-Hungarian County of Tyrol until 1918. It was annexed by Italy after World War I, and despite efforts by South Tyrolean Liberation Committees and far-right groups, it remains a part of Italy today. While there have been calls for South Tyrol's reunification with Austria, including from political parties like South Tyrolean Freedom, the sentiment is not unanimous. Some South Tyroleans value their autonomy and the financial benefits of remaining within Italy. Additionally, Austria has expressed mixed feelings about reunification due to concerns over South Tyroleans' nationalistic tendencies. The complex dynamics between these regions are shaped by historical events, language, and the desire for self-determination, resulting in ongoing discussions about the future of South Tyrol.

The South Tyrolean independence movement

South Tyrol has historically been a source of contention between Italy and Austria. The region was Austrian Crown Land for centuries, except for a period during the Napoleonic Wars, and later became part of the Austrian Empire in 1814. However, following the First World War, Italy declared war on the Central Powers and, in exchange for Italy's support, the Treaty of London was signed, which entailed Italy obtaining South Tyrol. In 1919, South Tyrol fell under Italian military administration with the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

The rise of Benito Mussolini and Fascism in Italy in 1922 led to a strong desire for cultural assimilation. Policies of Italianisation were implemented, seeking to eliminate the German language in speech, education, and everyday use. During World War II, Italy and Nazi Germany formed the Axis Powers and agreed to compel South Tyrolese who resisted Italianisation to immigrate into the Greater Germanic Reich. While most immigrants returned after the war, these policies resulted in the permanent departure of 75,000 people.

After World War II, the transitional Austrian government expressed concern for the treatment of German and Ladin ethnic minorities in South Tyrol. This was addressed through the signing of the Paris Treaty in 1946, which outlined a platform for South Tyrol's autonomy and the protection of minorities. However, these changes were largely unimplemented, leading Austria to appeal to the United Nations in 1961. In 1972, South Tyrol was granted the status of an autonomous area, with greater self-governance. This status was further solidified in 1992 when a final agreement was reached between the governments of Austria and Italy.

Despite this autonomy, the South Tyrolean independence movement persists. Political parties advocating for South Tyrol's secession, such as South Tyrolean Freedom, Die Freiheitlichen, and Citizens' Union for South Tyrol, have gained some support. Polls show that 54% of German or Ladin-speaking South Tyroleans would support secession from Italy, while 46% of the total population (including Italians) would encourage it.

The movement's arguments for secession include ethnolinguistic diversity and economic considerations. South Tyrol has a majority German-speaking population and tensions over the fair treatment and acknowledgment of minority language speakers have been a historical justification for separatism. Additionally, South Tyrol is one of the wealthiest provinces in Italy, with a GDP per capita of €32,000. However, during Italy's economic decline since the Eurozone crisis, South Tyrol has been asked to allocate funds to stabilize the national budget, which some argue violates its autonomous status.

The impact of Fascism

Benito Mussolini's regime sought to eliminate the German language from public life, education, and everyday use. This included a ban on the use of German in the public sphere and the Italianisation of proper names. The Fascist regime also encouraged migration from other Italian regions to establish a larger Italian-speaking community in South Tyrol.

One of the most notorious figures in this process was Ettore Tolomei, an Italian nationalist and fascist. Tolomei was responsible for inventing or adapting around 8,000 Italian geographical place names to replace the traditional German ones. He even requested to be buried facing north so he could watch the last German-speaking South Tyrolean leave for Austria.

The Fascist era in South Tyrol left deep scars on the local population. Many were forced to immigrate to Nazi Germany to preserve their cultural identity. While most returned after World War Two, 75,000 people permanently left the region.

The legacy of Fascism in South Tyrol remains a sensitive and divisive issue. Reminders of the Fascist regime are still present in the region, including monuments, buildings, and place names. There is ongoing debate among historians, politicians, and the public about how to address these remnants of the past. Some argue for their removal, while others propose preserving or neutralising them by transforming them into educational sites.

The South Tyrolean Liberation Committee

The history of the South Tyrolean Liberation Committee can be divided into two stages. During the first phase, from 1956 to 1961, the activists focused on symbolic targets, such as relics of the fascist regime, avoiding physical harm to humans. On 12 June 1961, the BAS organised the bombing of 37 electricity pylons supplying power to the industrial zone of Bolzano, later known as the Night of Fire (Feuernacht).

After the imprisonment of almost all leading members, the second phase began, characterised by increased violence. This phase saw the infiltration of Austrian and German neo-Nazis and intensified secret service activities, culminating in several assassinations and ambushes on Italian security forces. With the progression of negotiations concerning South Tyrolean autonomy in the late 1960s, the BAS became less active.

The benefits of remaining in Italy

South Tyrol has been an autonomous Italian province since 1948, and there are several reasons why remaining in Italy is beneficial for the region.

Self-governance and financial privileges

South Tyrol enjoys a high degree of autonomy, with a large range of exclusive legislative and executive powers. The province retains almost 90% of its tax revenue while remaining a net contributor to the national budget. This has allowed South Tyrol to become the wealthiest province in Italy and among the wealthiest in the European Union.

Peaceful coexistence and improved relations

South Tyrol is now considered a model example of the autonomy of ethnic minorities and peaceful coexistence of different population groups. This gives hope for other regions with a conflict-ridden past and shows that borders can become unnecessary through the European integration process.

Improved relations with Austria

Through the European integration process, borders have become less relevant, and South Tyrol has strong relations with the Austrian state of Tyrol. Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995 led to a common currency and a de facto disappearance of the borders.

Protection of minority languages

South Tyrol is officially multilingual, and German and Italian are both recognised as official languages. The rights of the German-speaking minority have been recognised in agreements between Italy and Austria, and German-language education is permitted.

Improved security

As part of Italy, South Tyrol benefits from being part of a larger country with stronger security capabilities. This provides greater protection against potential external threats.

Access to the Italian market

Remaining in Italy allows South Tyrolean businesses to easily access the Italian market, which offers numerous opportunities for trade and economic growth.

Cultural exchange and diversity

Being part of Italy enriches South Tyrol culturally and promotes diversity. It allows for the exchange of ideas, traditions, and customs between the two regions and fosters a more inclusive and open society.

The Euroregion Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino

The Euroregion was created in 1998 by the three provinces to promote regional peace, understanding, and cooperation in many areas. Cross-border cooperation between the three neighbours covers many fields, including tourism, traffic, infrastructure, social services, and environmental issues in the sensitive central Alps area.

The region is extremely mountainous, covering a large part of the Dolomites and the southern Alps. It is divided into two autonomous provinces: Trentino in the south and South Tyrol in the north. The capital city is Trento, although the two provincial capitals alternate biennially (the other being Bolzano) as the site of the regional assembly.

The Euroregion has a population of about 1,072,276 people, with 62% speaking Italian as their mother tongue, 30% speaking South Tyrolean German, and several foreign languages spoken by immigrant communities. Overall, 62% of the Euroregion are German speakers and 37% Italian speakers. About 1% of the total population speaks Ladin as their mother tongue, a group mainly indigenous to South Tyrol but also to Trentino and Belluno.

Frequently asked questions