Description: Austria does not often make political headlines. It has at least twice in recent years: in 1986, when the "Waldheim Affair" was debated worldwide, and in 1999, when the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) under Joerg Haider received 27 percent of the vote in national elections
Brief description:
Ruth Wodak is distinguished professor and chair of discourse studies at Lancaster University. She has published widely in the areas of discourse studies, racism, and discrimination, including Discourse and Discrimination (with M. Reisigl), Racism at the Top (with T. van Dijk), and The Haider Phenomenon in Austria (with A. Pelinka). She is executive editor of The Journal of Language and Politics.
Review Quotes:
"Few observers outside of Austria have made significant note of its internal politics. Moreover, the history of antisemitism and right-wing extremism, including the experience of the Third Reich, have escaped the attention of many save the most knowledgeable observers of European politics. In the midst of this, Jorg Haider's rise in 1999, represented by the Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) as part of a coalition government, came as a surprise to many. The real question is, should it have been a surprise, and does the success of Haider and the FPO reflect a broader right-wing phenomenon in European politics? Are populist, racist, and xenophobic parties on the way to a political resurgence? The editors and contributing authors of this volume offer 11cross-disciplinary chapters that examine the scope and saliency of ultranationalist politics in Austria and its effect on the European landscape, including cultural and historical influences alongside the political consequences. Although the Austrian case is distinctive, there is reason to believe that antiforeigner feelings and reactions to the processes of European integration will continue to emit powerful voices from the extreme Right. Certainly it is significant to note the unsettled issues of the past. The volume is readable, provides an index, and is highly recommended for undergraduate and graduate students and scholars."
--A. R. Brunello, Choice