Military culture and popular patriotism in late imperial Austria

__Military Culture and Popular Patriotism__ examines the interplay between popular patriotism and military culture in late imperial Austria. Laurence Cole suggests that two main questions should be asked regarding the western half of the Habsburg Monarchy during the period from the mid-nineteenth century to the outbreak of war in 1914. Firstly, how far did imperial Austrian society experience a process of militarization comparable to that of other European countries? Secondly, how far did the military sphere foster popular patriotism in the multinational state?Various manifestations of military culture, including hero cults and, above all, military veterans associations, provide the main subject for analysis in this volume. After exploring the historical development of military culture in the Habsburg Monarchy, Cole explains how the long reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I constituted a decisive phase in the militarization of Austrian society, with the dynasty and state emphasizing the military's role as the locus of loyalty. Popular manifestations of military culture, such as the hero cult surrounding Field Marshal Radetzky and military veterans associations, complemented the official agenda in many respects. However, veterans associations in particular constituted a political mobilization of the lower middle and lower classes, who asserted their own interests and position in civil society, as is shown by case studies of regions of the Austrian state with significant Italian-speaking populations (Trentino and the Littoral). State attempts to assert greater control of veterans activities led to national and political opposition at a time when tensions over 'militarism' and foreign policy increased. __The Black and the Gold__ thus raises the question of whether the military was really a bulwark of the multinational state or rather a polarizing force in imperial Austrian society. Military Culture and Popular Patriotism in Late Imperial Austria examines the interplay between popular patriotism and military culture in late imperial Austria. Laurence Cole suggests that two main questions should be asked regarding the western half of the Habsburg Monarchy during the period from the mid-nineteenth century to the outbreak of war in 1914. Firstly, how far did imperial Austrian society experience a process of militarization comparable to that of other European countries? Secondly, how far did the military sphere foster popular patriotism in the multinational state? Various manifestations of military culture, including hero cults and, above all, military veterans associations, provide the main subject for analysis in this volume. After exploring the historical development of military culture in the Habsburg Monarchy, Cole explains how the long reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I constituted a decisive phase in the militarization of Austrian society, with the dynasty and state emphasizing the military's role as the locus of loyalty. Popular manifestations of military culture, such as the hero cult surrounding Field Marshal Radetzky and military veterans associations, complemented the official agenda in many respects. However, veterans associations in particular constituted a political mobilization of the lower middle and lower classes, who asserted their own interests and position in civil society, as is shown by case studies of regions of the Austrian state with significant Italian-speaking populations (Trentino and the Littoral). State attempts to assert greater control of veterans activities led to national and political opposition at a time when tensions over'militarism'and foreign policy increased. Military Culture and Popular Patriotism in Late Imperial Austria thus raises the question of whether the military was really a bulwark of the multinational state or rather a polarizing force in imperial Austrian society. Military Culture and Popular Patriotism examines the interplay between popular patriotism and military culture in late imperial Austria. Laurence Cole suggests that two main questions should be asked regarding the western half of the Habsburg Monarchy during the period from the mid-nineteenth century to the outbreak of war in 1914. Firstly, how far did imperial Austrian society experience a process of militarization comparable to that of other European countries? Secondly, how far did the military sphere foster popular patriotism in the multinational state? Various manifestations of military culture, including hero cults and, above all, military veterans associations, provide the main subject for analysis in this volume. After exploring the historical development of military culture in the Habsburg Monarchy, Cole explains how the long reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I constituted a decisive phase in the militarization of Austrian society, with the dynasty and state emphasizing the military's role as the locus of loyalty. Popular manifestations of military culture, such as the hero cult surrounding Field Marshal Radetzky and military veterans associations, complemented the official agenda in many respects. However, veterans associations in particular constituted a political mobilization of the lower middle and lower classes, who asserted their own interests and position in civil society, as is shown by case studies of regions of the Austrian state with significant Italian-speaking populations (Trentino and the Littoral). State attempts to assert greater control of veterans activities led to national and political opposition at a time when tensions over 'militarism' and foreign policy increased. The Black and the Gold thus raises the question of whether the military was really a bulwark of the multinational state or rather a polarizing force in imperial Austrian society. Military Culture and Popular Patriotism in Late Imperial Austria raises two main questions regarding the western half of the Habsburg Monarchy during the period from the mid-nineteenth century to the outbreak of war in 1914. Firstly, how far did imperial Austrian society experience a process of militarization comparable to that of other European countries? Secondly, how far did the military sphere foster popular patriotism in the multinational state? Various manifestations of military culture, including hero cults and, above all, military veterans' associations, provide the subject for analysis in this volume. After exploring the historical development of military culture in the Habsburg Monarchy, Laurence Cole explains how the long reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I constituted a decisive phase in the militarization of Austrian society, with the dynasty and state emphasizing the military's role as the locus of loyalty. Popular manifestations of military culture, such as the hero cult surrounding Field Marshal Radetzky and military veterans' associations, complemented the official agenda in many respects. However, veterans' associations in particular constituted a political mobilization of the lower middle and lower classes, who asserted their own interests and position in civil society, as is shown by case studies of regions of the Austrian state containing Italian-speaking populations (Trentino and the Littoral). State attempts to assert greater control of veterans' activities led to national and political opposition at a time when tensions over 'militarism' and foreign policy increased. Military Culture and Popular Patriotism in Late Imperial Austria thus poses the question of whether the military was really a bulwark of the multinational state or rather a polarizing force in imperial Austrian society. Book jacket The book examines the interplay between popular patriotism and military culture in late imperial Austria (the western half of Austria-Hungary). For the period from the mid-nineteenth century to the outbreak of war in 1914, this study asks: firstly, how far did imperial Austrian society experience a process of militarization comparable to that of other European countries; and secondly, how far did the military sphere foster popular patriotism in the multinational state? After exploring the historical development of military culture in the Habsburg Monarchy, the book explores how the long reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I constituted a decisive phase in the militarization of Austrian society, with the dynasty and state emphasizing the military’s role as the main locus of loyalty. Popular manifestations of military culture, such as the hero cult surrounding Field Marshal Radetzky and military veterans’ associations, complemented this official agenda in many respects. However, veterans’ associations simultaneously constituted a political mobilization of the lower-middle and lower classes, who asserted their own interests and position in civil society, as is shown by case studies of regions with significant Italian-speaking populations (Trentino and the Littoral). The Austrian state’s attempts to assert greater control over veterans activities led to national and political opposition at a time when tensions over militarism and foreign policy increased. The study thus asks whether the military was really a bulwark of the multinational state or rather a polarizing force in imperial Austrian society Examining The Interplay Between Popular Patriotism And Military Culture In Late Imperial Austria, This Volume Asks Two Key Questions: How Far Did Imperial Austrian Society Experience A Process Of Militarisation Comparable To That Of Other European Countries; And How Far Did The Military Sphere Foster Popular Patriotism In The Multinational State? Creating And Displaying Patriotism : Military Culture And Dynastic Self-representation In Habsburg Austria -- Embodying Patriotism : Field Marshal Radetzky As Military Hero -- Popularizing Patriotism : The Organization Of Military Veterans -- 'good Soldiers' : Military Veterans In Trentino -- For Emperor And Fatherland : Military Veterans In Trieste And The Littoral -- Patriotic Action : The Imperial And Royal Austrian Soldiers Corps -- Conclusion : Military Culture And The Limits Of Patriotic Mobilization. Laurence Cole. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 325-340) And Index. Content: Introduction: 'Military Culture' and Popular Patriotism in late Imperial Austria 1. Creating and Displaying Patriotism: Military Culture and Dynastic Self-Representation in Habsburg Austria 2. Embodying patriotism: Field-Marshall Radetzky as military hero 3. Popularising Patriotism: the Organisation of Military Veterans 4. 'Good soldiers': Military Veterans in Trentino 5. For Emperor and Fatherland: Military Veterans in Trieste and the Littoral 6. Patriotic Action: the Imperial and Royal Austrian Military Soldiers Corps Conclusion: Military Culture and the Limits of Patriotic Mobilisation