The project Mayors and Mayoresses in Austria Social Characteristics, Careers, and Role Behaviour concentrates
on an analysis of the most important political office at local level: that of mayor. Its aim is to conduct an empirical
analysis of the mayor`s and mayoresses` social characteristics, their careers, the patterns of recruitment to the office
of mayor and mayoresses, and the mayors` and mayoresses` role behaviour. The most ambitioned goal of this
research project is to study the relationsship between these dimensions. For instance, do social characteristics and
career patterns influence their role sets and role behaviour?
In order to do this, a variety of methods will be employed. These will include making use of the relevant literature,
collecting background and career data, sending out a mail questionaire, and conducting oral interviews with
mayors, mayoresses and experts.
The project aims to document and analyze empirically the political functions of mayors and mayoresses, using the
approach and applying the methods of elite research.
Much has been written about the important positions of Federal Chancellor and President in Austria, but very little
about the top positions at local level. This project will make a contribution to an area which has been largely
overlooked until now.