Anti-immigrant rhetoric as an element of public life in Austria – selected aspects

Abstract

Nowadays, Austria is facing significant challenges in implementing integrational policy towards immigrants It’s basic assumption is to enethe economic inclusion as soon as possible. On the other hand, the integration program generates quite high costs, and this fact is repeatedly used in public discussion. The emerging soccismscepticism towards immigration has become one of the reasons for the electoral success of the far right, which is considered to be the anti-immigrant Freedom Party of Austria. The article undertakes an analysis of a selected topic, including several aspects: the attitude of political parties towards the so-called immigration issues, the nature of election campaigns and government initiatives on Austria’s immigration policy. On the other hand, the questions raised in the paper concern the following issunce whenidis the change in the nature of public discussion in Austria come about, under what influence have the factors of anti-immigrant rhetoric intensified and what are the effects of such rhetoric? Another important issue is whether nly Freedom Party of Austria remains the only carrier of such rhetoric.