Austria

Austrian Cultural Aspects

Characteristics and Values, Behavior, Business, Eating and

Drinking

by Linda Bohatsch, Magdalena Leder and Nina Rauscher

The country and its people

• Key facts

• Topography & Economics

• Education & Politics

• Historical Information

• Characteristics and Values

• Behaviour

• Doing Business

• Eating & Drinking

Key Facts• Capital: Vienna• approx. 8.5 Mio. people – 84.000 km²• Name originates from Germanic and Celtic

languages• Ethnic groups: German, indigenous minorities and

immigrant groups• Religion: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant,…• Country divided into states, districts and

municipalities

Puzzle

Topography and Economics

• Mountainous country (32% below 500 m)

• Divided into 5 areas (Austrian Alps, …)

• One of the 10 richtest countires in the world

• High living standard• Since 1995 EU member –

main trading partner

Education and Politics• School attendance compulsory for 9

yrs

• Primary education (4yrs) – 2 school types – schools for further education – university

• Federal, parliamentarian, democratic republic (1920/1945)

• 2 chambers in Parliament: Nationalrat (elected every 5 yrs) and Bundesrat

A brief history

• Celts are the first settlers• Austria is part of the Roman Empire• Charles the Great (late 8th cent) >

colonization and christianization• House of Babenberg• House of Habsburg• Dual monarchy Austria - Hungary

• 1938 Anschluß: incorporation to the third Reich • WW II(1938-45)• liberty of Austria in 1945 (State Treaty) > Second

Republic of Austria• independence in 1955 • 1995 member of the EU

Characteristics and Values

• Austrians are conservative

• Relaxed and happy approach to life = Gemütlichkeit

• Friendly and hospitable to foreigners

• Austrians have a closely knit circle of friends and a wide network of acquaintances

Behavior

• Good manners and polite behavior are extremely important in Austria

• Address Austrians by their appropriate titles and surnames until you are invited to use their first names

• Firm handshake on arrival and departure• Maintain eye contact during the greeting• Distinguish between ‘Du’ and ‘Sie’

Doing Business

• First impressions are important

• Good preparation is necessary

• Austrians negotiate in a linear, direct fashion

• Who you know is important to business success in Austria

• Do not discuss your private life at work or bring your work home

Eating and Drinking

• Austrians love good food – gourmet tradition

• Main meal at lunchtime (noon)• Great variety of desserts• Dark bread• Mineral water, Beer, Wine,

Schnaps• Coffeehouse, Gasthaus,

Gastgarten, Buschenschank/Heuriger

Thank you for your attention!

Rauscher Nina, Bohatsch Linda, Leder Magdalena