Conference paper
Yugoslav Workers’ Associations in Austria and Attempts to Organise a Unified Alliance of Yugoslav Workers Associations Abroad
Cveta Knapič-Krhen
; Institute of History of the Labour Movement in Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
From the last decade of the 19th century to the First World War, Yugoslav workers’ associations carried on their work in major European centres – e. g. in Vienna, Berlin, Budapest, Munich, Paris and London. Although founded as cultural-educational organisations, these associations had a political, socialist orientation as well. They collaborated closely with the labour movements in South Slavic lands and abroad as well. In the specific conditions existing abroad they could often function more freely than in the homeland, and thus some leaders of the Yugoslav workers' movement continued their work in foreign settings. Vienna became a centre for Slovene and Croatian Social Democrats and Budapest for Serbian ones. In her contribution, the author gives particular attention to Yugoslav workers' organisations in Austria – “Sloga” (Unity) in Vienna and “Danica” (The Morning Star) in Graz. In the second part of the text, the attempt to create a unified alliance of Yugoslav workers' associations abroad is discussed. However, the role of these associations in the Yugoslav labour movement was lost when Socio-democratic parties in the homeland took over leadership in the movement. Afterwards, before the outbreak of the First World War, members of the associations were dispersed, partly due to the growth of unemployment. The idea of a unified alliance was given up at that time.
Keywords
workers’ associations; labour movement; Austria
Hrčak ID:
128156
URI
Publication date:
31.5.1988.
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