Austria

LIKE THE REST OF central Europe, during the 20th century the people of Austria suffered a great deal from war and political conflict, the latter particularly rooted in right-left conflict. Five major cases in the last 100 years illustrate the power of the right wing in Austria. These are: 1) right-left conflict during the First Republic; 2) the 1938 Anschluss with Nazi Germany; 3) the post-World War II rehabilitation of Austrian Nazis and Nazi sympathizers, as well as Austrian reluctance in restitution of stolen art, stolen property, seized bank accounts and gold, as well as life insurance policies; 4) controversy over the presidency of Kurt Waldheim; and 5) the participation of Jörg Haider in the Austrian government.