Discuss the main features of Austrian government, politics and Essay

Discuss the main features of Austrian government, politics and parliamentary democracy today - Essay Example Shortly thereafter, Austria passed a law "declaring perpetual neutrality and a ban on entering any military alliances or allowing foreign military bases on Austrian territory." In its role as a neutral state, Austria viewed itself as a bridge between the East and West during the Cold War and hosted a number of United Nations agencies and international organizations in Vienna. Despite its political neutrality, however, Austria remained closely aligned with western democracies both culturally and ideologically. In a June, 1994 referendum, 66% of Austrians demonstrated their favor for EU membership, which led to the signing of the Treaty of Accession of Austria to the EU on June 24, 1994. This Treaty subsequently entered into force, and Austria became a member of the EU on January 1, 1995. Presently, Austria is one of the wealthiest EU Members. Over 60% of the nation's imports and exports come from or go to other EU countries, rendering the nation's economy largely dependent on the EU. Currently, Austria is one of eleven EU Member States that has adopted the Euro and, consequently, it has implemented an economic plan in accordance with European Monetary Union requirements. Traditionally, Austria's economy operated as "a corporatist system of 'social partnership' between government, industry, labor, and agriculture." In the 1980s, however, the government's role began to wane as a result of the privatization of many enterprises formerly under state ownership. The services sector dominates the economy, and tourism generates approximately 15% of the nation's capital. Over 9% of Austria's population is considered "foreign," with communities of ethnic Magyars and Croats living in the province of Burgenland and Slovenes in Carinthia. Nevertheless, 98% percent of Austrians speak German.30 In 1996, more than 700,000 immigrant workers were registered in Austria, and an unknown number of illegal immigrants and refugees presently reside there. AUSTRIA'S POLITICAL SYSTEM has been a model of stability since democracy was restored in 1945. In contrast to the interwar period, when domestic political rivalries and foreign intervention brought the system of government set out by the constitution of 1920 to a standstill, after World War II this reestablished parliamentary democracy functioned smoothly in what came to be termed the Second Republic. At times, Austria's political system seemed impervious to change, but by the middle of the 1980s, it had become clear that far-reaching social and economic trends were beginning to affect the country's politics. Austria is a parliamentary represented democracy comprising nine federal states and is one of six European countries that have declared permanent neutrality (A neutral country takes no side in a war between other parties, and in return hopes to avoid being attacked by either of them. A neutralist policy aims at neutrality in case of an armed conflict that could involve the party in question. A neutralist is an advocate of neutrality in international affairs) and one of the few countries that includes the concept of everlasting neutrality in its constitution. Austria has been a member of the United Nations since 1955 and joined the European Union in 1995. When Austria joined the EU in 1995 a referendum had to be held because the accession was qualified as a fundamental change