A compact seminar designed to feature distinguished short-term visitors from Austrian universities who have expertise in Austrian literature, politics, and culture to teach topics that complement regular departmental offerings. One short paper is required. Taught in English or in German.

Taught in English. Note: This class only meets for 5 Wednesdays from 01/22/2025-02/19/2025. This course is open for majors and minors to count as a german taught course if the reading material and homework is completed in "German". The proposed course sheds light on a society which, for all its differences, shows astonishing parallels with the present in many countries of the Western world: Austria in the interwar period 1918-1938. This first democracy on Austrian soil was characterized by political polarization, fierce conflicts over distribution, cultural struggles, endemic racism and a militarization of politics that was unprecedented in Europe. Under the impact of the global economic crisis and the rise of National Socialism, the conservative establishment finally overcame democracy and, supported by large sections of the state apparatus, the military and the police as well as the Catholic Church, established a fascist regime based on the Italian model. However, while Mussolini’s Italian regime succeeded in integrating large sections of society into the new order, Austrian fascism failed in this respect and eventually collapsed under pressure from neighboring Nazi Germany.Embedded in the history of the rise of fascist movements in Europe, the five units deal with the causes and dynamics of conflicts that ultimately led to the destruction of parliamentary democracy.

Repeat Rules