Tackling Empire

This research proposal focuses on Austria and Hungary`s relations with the non-European world in the inter-war period. Both Austria`s and Hungary`s relations with Africa, Asia and Latin America between 1918 and 1939 remain a largely unexplored topic, in contrast to the pre-1918 and Cold War periods. Moreover, the repositioning of Austria and Hungary as post-imperial spaces has rarely been linked to the general crisis of imperialism and the reorganization of the international order after the First World War. Based on an actor-focused and transnational history approach, the project concentrates on the role of political lobby groups as well as industrial and trade networks in the international relations of both countries. It also examines the role of colonial mindsets and racist stereotypes in these relations. Joint research based on cross-border case studies and complementary archival sources will help us to learn more about the circulation of ideas between the two countries and to better understand their interconnectedness across new state borders after 1918. More generally, the project will lead to a better understanding of the post-imperial history of Austria and Hungary in particular and enrich debates on interwar post-imperialism in general. The Austrian team will be led by Lucile Dreidemy. She is an expert on Austrian political history and Austria`s relations with the Global South since 1918. The Hungarian team is headed by Péter Apor. He specialises in Central and Eastern Europe`s relations with the Global South and has contributed to methodological and theoretical debates on the use of comparative and transnational history in this region.