Friedensbewegung

Peace Movement: The novel "Die Waffen nieder!" ("Lay Down Your Arms!") by Bertha v. Suttner, published in 1889, initiated the peace movement in Austria. In 1890 Suttner founded the "Austrian Peace Society " ("Österreichische Gesellschaft der Friedensfreunde"), "Austrian Society of the Friends of Peace; "Suttner Society" since 1964), which other associations joined in subsequent years. In addition to Suttner A. Fried figured prominently in the Austrian and European peace movement. During World War I members of the peace association "Para Pacem" (e.g. H. Lammasch, K. Dumba, J. Ude, J. Meinl and R. Mayreder) were staunch supporters of peace, although the association had been banned. After 1918 numerous new pacifist organisations were founded (Gesellschaft für Friedenserziehung - Society for Peace, Internationale Frauenliga für Frieden und Freiheit - International Women's League for Peace and Freedom, Internationaler Bund katholischer Esperantisten - International League of Catholic Esperantists, Katholischer Weltfriedensbund vom weißen Kreuz - Catholic League for World Peace of the White Cross, Österreichische Völkerbundliga - Austrian League of Nations Association); the Catholic organisations joined together under the name "Katholische Internationale" - Catholic-International". After the death of Fried R. Goldscheid became president of the reestablished Peace Society (1923-1931), followed by the Social Democrat B. Schönfeld; in 1936 the Society was dissolved. The Pan-Europe movement founded in 1923 by R. Coudenhove-Kalergi in Vienna adopted peace propaganda in its platform. In 1938 the National Socialists dissolved all associations for peace. During World War II there were peace efforts within the Austrian Resistance Movement. In 1946 the "Österreichische Friedensgesellschaft" ("Austrian Society for Peace") was reestablished, and in 1949 the "österreichischer Friedensrat" ("Austrian Peace Council") was founded. Since 1973 the "Institut für Friedensforschung" ("University Centre for Peace Reseach") has existed at the University of Vienna. Further scientific institutes for peace research such as the "Österreichisches Studienzentrum für Frieden und Konfliktlösung" ("Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution") in Stadtschlaining (Burgenland) and the "Europäisches Universitätszentrum für Friedensstudien" ("European University Centre for Peace Studies") have also been established. In addition to "Koordinationsausschuß der österreichischen Friedensbewegung" ("Co-ordination Committee of the Austrian Peace Movement"), of which organisations such as the Österreichische Hochschülerschaft (Austrian Students' Association) and the Österreichischer Bundesjugendring (Austrian Youth Association) are members, there are other independent peace initiatives (e.g. the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Wehrdienstverweigerung und Gewaltfreiheit - Association for Conscientious Objectors, SOS Mitmensch). The peace demonstration in Vienna on May 15, 1982 represented one of the highlights of the Austrian peace movement.

Literature: M. Rauchensteiner (ed.), Überlegungen zum Frieden, 1987.