Review article
https://doi.org/10.46672/po-mest.29.1-2.3
The Genesis of Austrian Neutrality: From Allied Occupation to United Nations Membership
Marin Jašić
orcid.org/0009-0007-3933-8534
Abstract
The paper analyzes the political, legal, and diplomatic circumstances under which Austria, following the Second World War, gradually established its neutrality and consolidated itself as an independent, internationally recognized state. The study focuses on the period of Allied occupation, during which the interests of the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France intertwined in shaping Austria’s domestic and foreign policy. Particular attention is devoted to the complex negotiations among the four powers conducted within the framework of the Allied Commission for Austria and subsequent bilateral initiatives, which ultimately led to the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in 1955. This treaty marked the end of a decade-long occupation and enabled the withdrawal of foreign troops from Austrian territory, thereby paving the way for the full restoration of Austrian sovereignty. The research demonstrates that the adoption of permanent neutrality was essential for Austria’s international recognition and its admission to the United Nations in the same year. Neutrality was defined as a constitutional obligation to refrain from joining military alliances and to prohibit the establishment of foreign military bases, while simultaneously serving as a foundation for the development of an independent foreign policy consistent with the principles of the UN Charter. This interpretation allowed Austria, despite Cold War polarization, to maintain balanced relations with both sides of the Iron Curtain. Therefore, the Austrian case is presented as an important precedent for the institutional construction of neutrality in postwar Europe, demonstrating that neutrality can emerge as a product of international agreement rather than solely from historical tradition. The diplomatic and legal mechanisms that enabled Austria’s reintegration into the international community illustrate that neutrality can serve as an instrument for preserving stability and balance between opposing blocs, as well as a foundation for the state’s long-term foreign policy autonomy.
Keywords
Austria; neutrality; Cold War; sovereignty; negotiations; United Nations
Hrčak ID:
346891
URI
Publication date:
5.5.2026.
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