ABSTRACT

This chapter chronologically analyzes the roles of regionalization(s) and globalization(s) in Austrian foreign policy in two stages: one, the period of Austria's first existence as a small state (1918 – 1938) and its annexation by Germany (1938 – 1945); two, the period since the reestablishment of its independence in 1945. As presented by Coudenhove-Kalergi, Paneurope would have been the "ideal solution" for the Austrian problem as, among other things, it amounted to "union with the successor states and with Germany". Against Soviet protests, Austria—already a member of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT)—participated in the Marshall plan and became a founding member of the Organiziation of European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), joining later the European Payments Union. Regionalization has been a dominating issue of modern Austrian foreign policy ever since the country's foundation in 1918. After Austria's reestablishment at the end of World War II, re-regionalization on substate level was an essential part of rebuilding the state.