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Expansion and consolidation of specific knowledge in the field of Austrian history, taking into account current tendencies and controversies of research. The students will be able to develop a scientific question, to research for that problem and to present it. They are able to discuss critical arguments and to compose a standard text on the chosen subject.

Why did national protection associations exist since the last decades of the 19^th century? Whom did they protect from whom? Why did many (especially urban people) believe that the (agrarian) population along the borderlands needed a special protection to safeguard its own national identity? Such associations did exist nearly among all ethnic groups/”nations” of the Habsburg Monarchy. Their activities caused increasing nationalism in politics and were reinforced by the growing number of popular newspapers.

The seminar focuses on some of these national protection associations. Special emphasis will be laid on those active in Tyrol before 1918.

theme centered inputs and reading, discussions and oral presentations.

Course examination according to § 7, statute section on "study-law regulations".

Active participation, reading, presentation, written final paper

Continuous assessment (based on written and oral contributions by participants).

Further announcements at the beginning of the course.

Peter Haslinger (Hg.), Schutzvereine in Ostmitteleuropa. Vereinswesen, Sprachenkonflikte und Dynamiken nationaler Mobilisierung 1860-1939 (=Tagungen zur Ostmitteleuropa-Forschung. 25), Marburg 2009.

Miroslav Hroch, Das Europa der Nationen. Die moderne Nationsbildung im europäischen Vergleich, Göttingen 2005.