AUSTRIA: Meeting the Challenge...
Student Text Page No. 3: "In Today's World"

A short ride on the U-Bahn, Vienna's subway, is all it takes to travel from Austria's "past" to its "future." Stephansplatz, the starting-point, is a station near St. Stephen's — a landmark 850-years-old cathedral. Ten minutes and several stops later, the train arrives at Kaisermühlen-Vienna International Centre, a station near "United Nations City."

This "City" (actually, a cluster of buildings) houses several major world organizations — the International Atomic Energy Agency, for example. Indeed, Vienna hosts many organizations dealing with global issues. And the sharp contrasts between its old castles and modern new financial centers offer an important lesson on how to survive in today's changing world.

A fine balance. The lesson is that change and tradition must be kept in balance, if a society is to flourish. In the late 20th century, Austrian policymakers helped their people make a dramatic recovery from war and economic losses. The result? Austria today has a streamlined economy and one of the best budget-making records in Europe. Yet at the same time, its traditional heritage — preserved in museums, concert halls, and theaters — still flourishes. However, new crises are sweeping the globe — environmental pollution, international terrorism, drug trafficking, and the like. And many of them demand new, international remedies....

Sharing tasks. As the seat of an empire, Austria once ruled other kingdoms. Today, however, it acts as "one among equals" in international organizations, where decisions are made by — and for — all members. Since 1995, for example, Austria has been a member of the European Union (EU). And 30 years before that, it joined the UN. Since then, it has taken part in many of that organization's peacekeeping missions. Indeed, over the past four decades, 50,000 Austrians have served in more than 50 UN missions worldwide. And the country frequently sends medical teams into areas of conflict monitored by UN troops.
     Extending humanitarian aid is important to Austrians. In 2003, they spent .2 percent of their gross national income to help needy people in other nations. Their "Neighbor in Need" initiative to help civilian victims of conflicts in the Balkans has included the construction of 5,000 houses. And the government itself is quick to join relief efforts in crisis areas ranging from Central America to Afghanistan.

Yes or No to NATO. Today, Austrians are pondering another kind of international linkage — membership in NATO. Since 1949, the USA, Canada, and several West European nations have participated in NATO, a mutual-defense organization which was formed to counter possible Soviet military threats. That old "Cold War" has ended, but the organization remains. In fact, it is expanding. Between 1999 and 2004, 10 more European nations joined NATO's ranks. And, as Austrians realized the impact of this expansion (there are now six NATO members on their country's borders), an old issue resurfaced: Should Austria join NATO? Or should it focus, instead, on EU plans to develop a Common Foreign and Security Policy for Europe?

Key Questions. Austria's debate over NATO is just one version of a question facing many societies in our world today: What is the future role of the nation-state? How will it balance its claim to sovereignty against arguments for joining world organizations? What changes should a nation's government help its people to accept? What traditions should it protect? As you think about such questions, stay in touch with news of Austria! And check the "facts" against such annual publications as the Statesman's Yearbook (New York, St. Martin's Press) and the World Factbook (Washington, DC; CIA).