ABSTRACT
The most distinctive feature of the social, economic and political system in Vienna is the ubiquity of connections and strings. The social environment of the average Viennese consists of networks of friendship and acquaintances that often serve no definite purpose other than to exist "in the event". According to the 1987 exit poll only 38% of the party shifters said they changed their party preference because of the party-card syndrome. The group that deplored the status quo most vehemently were the top administrative specialists, obviously because they already had safe jobs (54%). The Socialist Party of Austria (SPO) policy of turning a deaf ear towards the opposition's demand for further democratization and more minority rights is not overly popular: Only 49% of the SPO sympathizers back the strategy to deny the opposition any participation in city government. A staggering 75% of the voters would welcome SPO cooperation with other parties.
