How new things do not emerge

The founding of the Institute of Advanced Study in Vienna by ex-Austrians and the 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.