Austria in a changing world: what is the future of "Eternal Neutrality"?

In the article, the authors consider the evolution of Austria's neutrality policy in the context of modern international challenges and transformations of the European security system. The object of the study is the political, legal and ideological phenomenon of the "eternal neutrality" of the Republic of Austria, enshrined in the Constitution and international agreements of 1955, namely, its political and social aspects. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the internal political debate that has intensified against the background of the European security crisis, as well as to the efforts of a number of Austrian politicians and experts calling for a reassessment of the expediency of maintaining a neutral status. The arguments of supporters of Austria's integration into military structures such as NATO and the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) are considered separately, including the experience of neutral countries in the recent past — Finland and Sweden. Using the methods of description and analysis, the article examines the historiography, foundations and essence of neutrality during and after the Cold War. Analysis and synthesis were chosen as methods to systematize and summarize the information received from various sources related to foreign policy, security policy and diplomacy of Austria. The scientific novelty of the article lies in a comprehensive analysis of the current political and public discourse in Austria about the future of neutrality in the context of a radical change in the architecture of international security due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Given the past mediation experience and the desire to lift sanctions by 2022, Austria is one of the main candidates (along with Hungary and Slovakia) for the role of mediator in the inevitable establishment of a Russia-EU dialogue after the end of the SVO, which makes the problem of a potential change in the fundamental social paradigm in this country relevant for our country. The authors consider narratives in favor of abandoning neutrality and joining NATO or the CFSP, which are used to influence Austrian society, with factors of national identity and historical memory, emphasizing the risks and prospects of a possible strategic turn. In the end, the authors conclude that the potential abandonment of neutrality will not increase Austria's security, while it will reduce its prestige in the eyes of third countries and worsen its geopolitical position.

Austria, EU, Neutrality, NATO, OSCE, CFSP, SVO, USA, Ukraine, Cold war