ABSTRACT
For a long time, Austria's permanent neutrality was seen as an element of the country's identity, one that would last, if not forever, at least for a very long time. When in September 1990, Jorg Haider, the populist leader of the Freedom Party, started to demand, in view of the changes in Eastern Europe, a debate about neutrality and the closely connected State Treaty, his attempt was greeted as foreign policy "nonsense." This chapter presents a short analysis of the meaning of neutrality in international relations. It examines why Austria chose neutrality in 1955, and what kind of neutrality it settled for. The development as well as the features and functions of 'active neutrality' will then be analyzed. Finally, the chapter describes the changes of Austrian neutrality and the background to the conceivable abandonment by Austria of this foreign policy status.
