»A Collective Educational Novel« – Austrian Identity Policy and The Lessons of History

Abstract

Johanna Gehmacher uses publications that have appeared on the occasion of the anniversary of the Republic since 1965 along with other sources to draw the image of Austria’s constantly changing identity policy. She bases her observations on Renata Saslecl’s theory of the fantasmatic roots of social identity discourses and the fact these are not definitive, but continuous and ongoing. Her focus is on the question of the different interpretations over the course of time and within the political spectrum. Gehmacher conforms with Felix Kreissler’s theory of Austria’s development as a collective educational nation. In light of very recent developments she argues that the very concept of identity must be called into question.