Migrant voices in the contemporary history of Vienna: the case of ex-Yugoslavs

This chapter explores the most astonishing case of erasure of a large population – it outlines the reasons that have lead to that silencing, and finally sketches ways out of the dilemma. The chapter makes a case for oral history as the only historical method capable of contributing the experiences of migrants themselves to historical narratives. As in other chapters in this book, the use of oral testimony is vital because other sources, especially written testimony, are not available. The case of erasure in question concerns the migrants from the countries of the former Yugoslavia, who are the largest migrant group in contemporary Vienna. Nevertheless, they are invisible in public spaces and inaudible in the media – they are heavily under-represented in community structures and politics. ¹ Their voices have hardly ever been heard in Vienna.