From its emergence out of the ashes of World War II through to the
economic and political challenges of today, Austria has embodied many of
the contradictions of recent European history. Written by one of the
nation's leading historians, this account of postwar Austria explores
the tensions that have defined it for over seven decades, whether in its
overlapping policies of engagement and isolationism, its grandiose
visions and persistent sense of inferiority, or its position as a model
social democracy that has suffered recurrent bouts of xenophobic
nationalism. This newly revised edition also addresses the major
developments since 2005, including a resurgent far right, economic
instability, and the potential fracturing of the European Union.