Austria's Social Democrats: A Swing Analysis

The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) is a major political force in Austria, positioned on the centre-left of the political spectrum. It was founded in 1889 as the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria and has since played a significant role in shaping the country's history and politics. The party has gone through several name changes, periods of success and decline, and has often been at the forefront of social and political reforms. With a strong base of support, particularly among the working class, the SPÖ has influenced Austria's stance on issues such as union with Germany, membership in the European Union, and social democratic ideals.

The party's early years

The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) was founded in 1889 as the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria (SDAPÖ). The party's first meeting took place in 1874 in Neudörfl, which later became Burgenland. The following years saw factional infighting, and the party split into moderate and more radical factions.

In 1889, the party was united through the work of Doctor Victor Adler, who created the Declaration of Principles, which was accepted at the party congress in Hainfeld on 30 December 1888. 1 January 1889 is considered the party's founding date. On 12 July 1889, the first issue of the party newspaper, the Arbeiter-Zeitung, was printed. Initially close to Marxism, the party continued to grow, especially in Vienna and the industrial areas of Bohemia, Moravia, Styria, Lower Austria, and Upper Austria.

The SDAPÖ was the second-largest party in the Imperial Council of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the 1890s through the 1910s. In 1899, at the party congress in Brünn (now Brno, Czech Republic), the Social Democrats presented a national reform program based on democratic federalism, which would have granted the right of national decisions to territorial units. In the 1920s, about 15% of Austrians were members of an association linked to the party. In 1929, it had 720,000 members and was almost hegemonic among the working class.

In 1934, the SDAPÖ was banned following the Austrian Civil War and was suppressed throughout Austrofascism and the Nazi period. In 1938, Austria was brought into the Second World War by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. In 1945, the party was reconstituted as the "Socialist Party of Austria" (SPÖ), led by Adolf Schärf.

The Interwar Period

During the interwar period, the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SDAPÖ) was the most established of the European social democratic parties. In the first elections for the National Assembly in February 1919, the Social Democrats won, and Karl Renner became State Chancellor, Minister of Interiors, and Minister of Education. The SDAPÖ introduced and implemented a socio-political programme that included unemployment benefits, an eight-hour working day, and a law regulating the workers' right to a paid holiday. They also implemented housing projects in Vienna between 1919 and 1934, providing housing for approximately 220,000 people.

However, the party lost power in 1920, and political violence began to escalate in Austria. In 1927, members of the right-wing Front Fighters' Union in Schattendorf shot and killed two people during a demonstration by the Republican Protection League, an adjunct paramilitary socialist organisation created by the SDAPÖ in 1923. The jury acquitted the alleged perpetrators, leading to mass demonstrations by left-wing groups, which were violently suppressed. This further weakened democratic forces in Austria and contributed to the suspension of Parliament in 1933.

In 1933, Engelbert Dollfuss, the Christian Social chancellor, suspended the Austrian Parliament and began ruling by decree, suspending civil liberties and imprisoning members of the Social Democratic Party. The SDAPÖ was banned in 1934 following the Austrian Civil War, and it remained suppressed throughout the Austrofascist period and the Nazi era. During this time, many SDAPÖ members initially welcomed the Anschluss, or union with Germany, and some even became members of the Nazi Party.

World War II

The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SDAPÖ) was founded in 1889 and has been one of the country's main political forces. At the start of World War I, it was the strongest party in parliament, and its leader, Karl Renner, became chancellor of the First Republic after the war. The SDAPÖ lost power in 1920 but retained support, especially in Vienna.

In the interwar period, the party supported the idea of a union with Berlin to form a great democratic German republic. This was in line with the sentiments of many Austrians, who considered themselves ethnically German. However, the victors of World War I did not allow this, and the borders of Austria were set. The Social Democrats also faced rising political violence, which culminated in the banning of the party under the Austrofascist dictatorship from 1934 to 1938.

In 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in an event known as the Anschluss, which brought Austria into World War II. Many Social Democrats, including Karl Renner, initially welcomed the union with Germany, as it promised more work, equality, and socialist reforms. However, the Nazis' rise to power in Germany had already caused a shift in the Socialists' view of the Anschluss. Once Austria became a part of Nazi Germany, Austrians participated in the war machine and were responsible for Nazi atrocities on the Eastern Front.

During World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States provided assistance to feed the Austrian population. The end of the war was marked by looting, raping, and hunger for most Austrians. In 1945, the Social Democratic Party was reconstituted as the "Socialist Party of Austria" (SPÖ), led by Adolf Schärf. The party entered the government of the Second Republic as part of a grand coalition.

The Soviet occupation of Austria saw the arrest and prosecution of Austrians for war crimes and everyday criminal activities. The Soviet repressive apparatus showed relative restraint, partly because Moscow did not fully control Austria. Chancellor Vranitzky later acknowledged Austria's guilt during World War II, breaking a long-standing taboo on the topic.

Post-war Austria

In the aftermath of World War II, the SPÖ was reconstituted as the "Socialist Party of Austria" or "Sozialistische Partei Österreichs" in 1945. The party, led by Adolf Schärf, entered into a grand coalition government with the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) as a junior partner. This coalition, which lasted until 1966, was marked by the country's reconstruction and a shift in domestic opinion towards independence and democracy. The SPÖ's close ties with the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK) also played a significant role in shaping its policies and influence.

The post-war period saw a change in the political landscape of Austria, with the SPÖ and the ÖVP dominating the political arena. The old Proporz system, where these two parties divided political, civil service, and economic positions between themselves, was favoured during this time as it ensured stability and allowed for the implementation of various social reforms. However, as Austria entered the post-Cold War era and joined the European Union, perceptions changed, and the Proporz system fell out of favour, seen as undemocratic and outdated.

The SPÖ's influence in post-war Austria extended beyond politics. The party addressed its conduct during the Nazi rule, opening its archives and publishing a report in 2005 on its members' involvement with the Nazi Party. This reflection on the past was also evident in President Heinz Fischer's criticism of Austria's traditional view of its role during Nazi rule, challenging the notion that Austria was merely a victim.

The Social Democratic Party of Austria's post-war history is characterised by its resilience and adaptability. Despite periods of persecution and banishment, the party consistently re-emerged as a significant force in Austrian politics, shaping the country's trajectory towards independence and democracy in the aftermath of World War II.

Recent developments

The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) has had a long history in the country's politics, often being one of the main political forces. In recent years, the party has continued to play a significant role in Austrian politics, although its influence has fluctuated. Here is an overview of some recent developments:

In the 2019 Austrian legislative election, the SPÖ won 21.2% of the votes, making it the second-largest party in the National Council with 40 out of 183 seats. The party maintained a similar level of support in the 2024 Austrian legislative election, receiving 21.1% of the votes.

The SPÖ currently holds seats in the legislatures of all nine states in Austria and is the largest party in three of them: Burgenland, Carinthia, and Vienna. It has close ties with the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK).

The party's stance on Austria's membership in the European Union is supportive, and it is a part of the Progressive Alliance and the Party of European Socialists. In the European Parliament, the SPÖ sits with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, with five out of Austria's 19 MEPs belonging to the party.

The SPÖ has experienced leadership changes in recent years. In June 2023, Andreas Babler became the new leader of the party. This followed the SPÖ's period as a governing party, which ended in 2017 when it was in a grand coalition with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP).

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