Really thoughtful piece, thank you. Austrian identity is publicly still very narrowly projected, clinging to a kitsch 1950s image, despite Austria always having been a multi ethnic, multi linguistic & multi faith state -with a tumultuous history (putting it kindly). To modernise we need to start define 'Austrianess' more inclusively - in reflection of reality, and enforce this inclusivity (e.g. reflect it in public posts, in executive functions) and give people the strategies to deal with this multifacetedness (which isn't always easy). However I have the feeling that people shy away from directly dealing with the topic of national identity (perhaps for good historic reasons) - with the consequence that the discourse of what is and isn't Austrian is mostly left to the right wing.
Good piece. I guess the problem is inherent conservatism and an unwillingness of many immigrants to fit in. I recently asked a shop worker where he was from. (he asked me first). He replied that he was born in Austria, had Austrian citizenship but was Turkish.
Really thoughtful piece, thank you. Austrian identity is publicly still very narrowly projected, clinging to a kitsch 1950s image, despite Austria always having been a multi ethnic, multi linguistic & multi faith state -with a tumultuous history (putting it kindly). To modernise we need to start define 'Austrianess' more inclusively - in reflection of reality, and enforce this inclusivity (e.g. reflect it in public posts, in executive functions) and give people the strategies to deal with this multifacetedness (which isn't always easy). However I have the feeling that people shy away from directly dealing with the topic of national identity (perhaps for good historic reasons) - with the consequence that the discourse of what is and isn't Austrian is mostly left to the right wing.
very good piece — even though I've lived in Austria for a considerable time, I don't see any avenue by which I would be accepted as "Austrian".
Good piece. I guess the problem is inherent conservatism and an unwillingness of many immigrants to fit in. I recently asked a shop worker where he was from. (he asked me first). He replied that he was born in Austria, had Austrian citizenship but was Turkish.