Specifics of Austrian military-political course after the end of the cold war

Abstract

Since the end of 1980th Austria has significantly been changing the model of its military-political course and taking into consideration neutral status of the State concentrates major efforts on activity in special international organizations including their military actions. In this regard the object of research is the military-political model of Austrian Republic in postbipolar epoch. Consequently, the subject of the article is changes and crucial determinations of Alpine Republic military-political line at the end of 1980th – 2020th. To cover this object-subject area problems and ways of neutrality transformation in 1990th – beginning of 2000th are analyzed. Along with that special attention is focused on Official Vienna’s activity in special international organizations in security sphere (UN, OSCE, EU, NATO) mostly diplomatic and legislative issues in first two cases and participation in military and training missions. The historical-genetic and comparative methods which allow to notice historic backgrounds and to compare Austrian efforts in security field are used. The scientific novelty of the research implies wide set of sources in German and an attempt to unite concrete Austrian steps in integral system. Crucial conclusions are determination of motives and features of Austrian policy transformation in security field. Its first characteristic is narrowing the interpretations of the neutral status with the subsequent opportunity to use national armed forces in the settlement of armed conflicts outside Austrian borders. The second consequence is description of interaction and two-component model of the UN, OSCE, EU and NATO instruments use. The first two are applied for promotion initiatives in regional conflicts settlement and foundation of legislative base for disarmament and avoiding militarization of other spaces. The last two provide the use of military measures for stabilization of conflict regions with avoiding of direct use of bundesheer.