ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part presents the general comparative overview of the Franz Vranitzky years in the European context. It analyzes the specific domestic agenda from the perspective of electoral behavior. The part discusses the Vranitzky era and the Kreisky era, the two periods of social democratic hegemony. It looks at Kreisky as the chancellor and party leader under the unique circumstances of overall Sozialistische Partei Osterreichs-majorities in the 1970s and at Vranitzky as the chancellor and party leader of a revived “grand coalition”. The part deals with two especially important perspectives of the Vranitzky years: the new importance of Austria’s dealing with Nazism and the international aspects of the politics of that particular past. It describes what remains of one of the Second Republic’s most important qualities: social partnership. The part focuses on Austria’s economic performance during the 1980s and 1990s.
