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

Abstract

In Austria, the number of people with immigrant roots has been increasing for several decades. This phenomenon is primarily the result of the recruitment system implemented since the 1960s (Gastarbeitersystem) and the subsequent family reunification process. At that time, many inhabitants of former Yugoslavia came to Austria (including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro), as did Turks. During the Cold War, Austria also became a shelter for political refugees from Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland. Recent years, however, have shown an increase in the influx of people from Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and then from Syria. The number of new applications for asylum increases every year. In 2015, the number of immigrants was the highest in recent decades. At that time, Austria had the fourth-largest number of asylum applications in the EU, preceded by Germany, Hungary and Sweden1. A year later the influx of people was slightly slowed down. In terms of the number of asylum applications, Austria was fifth in the EU after Germany, Italy,