Wie Neues nicht entsteht

Die Gründung des Instituts für Höhere Studien in Wien durch Ex-Österreicher und die Ford Foundation

Abstract

On the basis of recently discovered sources the author is able to rewrite the prehistory and early history of the Viennese Institut fuer Hoehere Studien as a complex story of communications decision-making and revising decisions within a small group of Austrian emigrees (among them: Friedrich von Hayek, Paul Lazarsfeld, and Oskar Morgenstern), American foundations, Austrian government officials and a group of Austrian social scientists profiting from the development. The Austrians sides in many ways apparently unable to transscend their own interest of the day produced a series of obstacles and barriers to establish this new institute. Thus, the massive impact of American money apparently produced a variety of unintended effects and consequences.