Austrian Colonial History
Mireille Ngosso 

The myth still exists that Austria had nothing to do with colonialism, since the country did not have any colonies of its own in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, especially at the end of the 19th century, Austria was very much involved in the exploitation of other countries through its colonial societies and colonial trade relations. For example, the Habsburgs undertook expeditions to Africa on the side of England in order to expand their territorial ambitions. That the Habsburg monarchy did not rise to a major colonial power seems, on closer examination of Austrian aspirations, to have been little more than the result of unfavorable coincidences at the time.

In her lecture, Mireille Ngosso makes clear that a serious reappraisal of Austria’s colonial history must be undertaken in order to properly depict the past and present. She talks about how Austria was directly and indirectly involved in colonialism and what effects and racisms this history brought with it. At the same time, she also outlines the history of the African diaspora in Austria and addresses possible future perspectives of the communities. Mireille Ngosso directs her gaze to current debates and movements that advocate for the end of discrimination and exclusion of black people in Austria.