Austria's Geographical Location: Exploring Its Place In Europe

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, of which the capital Vienna is the most populous city and state. Austria is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The country occupies an area of 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi) and has a population of around 9 million.

Austria's Geography

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is predominantly mountainous, with the Alps occupying 62% of the country's total area. The country is divided into nine federal states, with the capital, Vienna, being the most populous city and state.

Austria shares borders with Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Hungary to the east, and Slovenia and Italy to the south. It has a total area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,383 sq mi) and a population of around 9 million.

The country can be divided into three unequal geographical areas. The largest part is occupied by the Alps, which include three major ranges: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps. The Central Alps are the largest and highest, running from Tyrol to the Styria-Lower Austria border. The Bohemian Forest, a low mountain range with a harsh climate, covers the remaining 10% of Austria's area.

Austria's landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with forest cover accounting for around 47% of the total land area. The country is home to numerous lakes, including Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the west and the marshy Neusiedler Lake (Neusiedlersee) in the east. The Danube River, which flows through Austria, is the only major European river that flows eastwards.

Austria's History

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, of which the capital Vienna is the most populous city and state. The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and then annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. Christianization in the region began in the 4th and 5th centuries, during the late Roman period, followed by the arrival of numerous Germanic tribes during the Migration Period.

Austria, as a unified state, emerged from the remnants of the Eastern and Hungarian March at the end of the first millennium, first as a frontier march of the Holy Roman Empire, it then developed into a Duchy in 1156, and was made an Archduchy in 1453. Being the heartland of the Habsburg monarchy since the late 13th century, Austria was a major imperial power in Central Europe for centuries and from the 16th century, Vienna was also serving as the Holy Roman Empire's administrative capital.

Before the dissolution of the empire two years later, in 1804, Austria established its own empire, which became a great power and one of the largest states in Europe. The empire's defeat in wars and the loss of territories in the 1860s paved the way for the establishment of Austria-Hungary in 1867.

After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, Emperor Franz Joseph declared war on Serbia, which rapidly escalated into World War I. The empire's defeat and subsequent collapse led to the proclamation of the Republic of German-Austria in 1918 and the First Austrian Republic in 1919. During the interwar period, anti-parliamentarian sentiments culminated in the formation of an Austrofascist dictatorship under Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934. A year before the outbreak of World War II, Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany by Adolf Hitler, and it became a sub-national division. After its liberation in 1945 and a decade of Allied occupation, the country regained its sovereignty and declared its perpetual neutrality in 1955.

Austria is a semi-presidential representative democracy with a popularly elected president as head of state and a chancellor as head of government and chief executive. Austria has the 13th highest nominal GDP per capita with high standards of living. The country has been a member of the United Nations since 1955 and of the European Union since 1995. It hosts the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and is a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Interpol. It also signed the Schengen Agreement in 1995, and adopted the euro currency in 1999.

Austria's Neighbours

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It borders eight countries: Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west.

Austria's relations with its neighbours are a regional priority of its foreign policy. Austria has longstanding historical links, common borders, and geographical similarities with its neighbours, particularly in the Alpine and Danube regions. The country also has intense economic interrelations with its neighbours, with trade accounting for more than half of Austria's trade flows.

Austria's membership of the European Union (EU) has further strengthened its ties with its neighbours, particularly through European regional cooperation programmes. The EU enlargement in 2004, which included several of Austria's neighbours, put cooperation and daily interchange between Austria and its neighbours on a new basis, and neighbourly relations have since become much closer at all levels of government.

Austria also participates in NATO's Partnership for Peace, supporting the organisation in peace missions, crisis management activities, and rescue operations in disaster areas.

Austrian Culture

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, of which the capital Vienna is the most populous city and state. Austria is bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The country has a population of around 9 million and occupies an area of 83,879 sq km.

Austria has always played a special role in the centre of Europe as a bridge-builder, meeting place, and venue for cultural exchange. Austrian culture is known for its characteristic way of enjoying life, art, strong coffee, healthy lifestyles, and sports. Popular national pastimes include attending concerts, playing music, and taking walks.

Language and Communication Styles

The official language of Austria is High German, although each region also has its own dialect. Other languages spoken include Turkish, Serbian, Slovene, Croatian, and Hungarian.

A typical Austrian could be described as open-hearted, but cautious in dealing with unfamiliar things. Austrians value punctuality, orderliness, and thoroughness, but they also like life to be social, warm-hearted, and lively. They tend to be direct communicators and prefer speaking honestly and clearly. At first, they may appear reserved and value modesty in most interactions. Maintaining eye contact during conversation is considered polite and respectful. Austrians usually dress well and take pride in their appearance.

Food and Drink

Austrian cuisine is derived from that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is famous for its well-balanced variations of beef and pork and countless variations of vegetables. Popular foods include Wiener Schnitzel, sausages, and goulash. For dessert, apple strudel and the classic Sachertorte are must-tries. The country also has a historic kaffeehaus (coffeehouse) culture, with many Austrians spending hours in cafes sipping hot drinks.

Sports

Austrians love sports, especially soccer and biking, but the country is most famous for its winter sports, such as alpine skiing.

Social Structure and Egalitarianism

Austria places great value on an egalitarian social structure. The country scores very low on the Power Distance dimension, meaning that emphasis is placed on participative communication and equality among members of society. The welfare system reflects this value, providing extensive support for health, education, employment, and retirement needs.

Gemütlichkeit and Camaraderie

A common attitude found among Austrians is 'Gemütlichkeit', meaning a feeling or state of friendliness, warmth, and happiness. Austrians often enjoy engaging and learning through conversation and tend to socialise during outdoor activities or at cafes. Restaurants, coffeehouses, and pubs provide a communal place for camaraderie to flourish.

Arts

Austria has a deep appreciation and respect for the arts. Both modern and traditional forms of artistry are popular. One of the longest-standing artistic expressions in Austria is music from the Classical and Romantic eras. Indeed, Austria is known for its various classical composers, most notably Wolfgang Mozart. Vienna is also associated with two particular music genres: the operetta and the waltz.

Austrian Politics

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, of which the capital, Vienna, is the most populous city and state. Austria's politics take place within the constitutional framework of a federal semi-presidential republic, with a president serving as head of state and a chancellor as head of government. The country's politics reflect the dynamics of competition among multiple political parties.

The ethnically and culturally heterogeneous nation-state of Austria is one of the many remnant states of Austria-Hungary, a vast multinational empire that ceased to exist in 1918. The Austrian Republic was preceded by a constitutional monarchy, whose legislative body was elected for the first time in 1897 by what the New York Times called "quasi-universal (male) suffrage".

Austria's first attempt at republican governance after the fall of the monarchy in 1918 was hampered by the economic burden of war reparations required by the victorious Allies. The Republic gradually developed into the Austrofascist dictatorship between 1933 and 1934 under Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, who was assassinated by Nazi party agents in 1934. The First Republic ended with the Anschluss (annexation) to Nazi Germany in 1938. Following World War II, Austria resumed its republican government and declared its perpetual neutrality in 1955.

After the war, the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) dominated politics and public life for decades, with only one additional party—the FPÖ—playing a significant role at the national level. More recently, the pattern of two-party dominance withered with the rise of newer parties, such as the Greens and the NEOS.

In the 2019 National Council elections, the ÖVP emerged as the strongest party, and the president asked Sebastian Kurz to form a new coalition government. Kurz formed his second ruling coalition between his conservative ÖVP party and the Greens. In July 2020, the coalition set up its new centre to deal with "political Islam" and its "dangerous ideology."

The Social Democratic Party suffered heavy losses in the 2019 National Council elections, ending up with a dozen seats fewer than in the previous legislative session. However, in January 2020, the SPÖ received almost 50% of the votes in regional elections in the State of Burgenland, which gave Hans Peter Doskozil an absolute majority of seats in the Landtag and allowed him to govern without the support of a junior coalition partner.

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is a right-wing populist political party founded in 1955 as a successor to the Federation of Independents. According to polls, it attracts votes from young people and workers, with nationalist rhetoric targeting Muslims, immigrants, and the European Union. The party steadily gained support after Jörg Haider took over leadership in 1986, attracting about 27% of the vote in the 1999 elections.

The Greens, a party focusing on environmental and social justice issues, received 10.4% of the vote in 2008 and are particularly strong in city areas. They attract left-liberal intellectuals and voters aged 18 to 30.

The NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum is a classic-centre liberal party that achieved its best result ever in the 2019 National Council elections, with 8.1% of the votes and 15 seats.

In January 2025, talks to form a government that would put the far-right in power in Austria for the first time since World War II were struggling, with FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl threatening to walk away from coalition talks if the ÖVP wasn't willing to fully accept his party as the senior partner. However, the anticipated FPO-OVP coalition would mark the first time that the FPO is the senior partner and the main decision-maker in an Austrian government.

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