Rethinking neutrality in Europe: a cluster-analysis of Austrian attitudes toward neutrality and non-alignment

Austria’s military neutrality has been an important part of its post-World War II identity, closely associated with sovereignty, political independence, and peace. However, changes in the European security environment have raised questions about the role of neutrality today. This study examines how the Austrian public understands and evaluates neutrality in the context of rising security concerns. Open-ended survey responses of 1,400 participants surrounding advantages and disadvantages of neutrality were examined and analyzed using thematic coding and statistical methods. Respondents identified particularly its contribution to political independence and the avoidance of involvement in armed conflicts as advantages of neutrality. The main disadvantages concerned Austria’s limited military capabilities and the absence of formal security alliances. Importantly, a high proportion of responses also suggested that neither advantages nor disadvantages could be determined. A hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three distinct profiles: “Security-Focused Pragmatists” (46.8%), who consider both the advantages and potential risks of neutrality, “Impartial Bystanders” (30%), who show relatively low engagement with the issue, and “Military Neutral Optimists” (23.3%), who tend to emphasize the benefits of neutrality while paying less attention to its possible disadvantages. Multinomial logistic regression further indicates that sociodemographic and political characteristics are significantly associated with membership in these groups. Overall, the findings suggest that attitudes toward neutrality are not uniform. They reflect practical assessments of Austria’s security position and a broader symbolic attachment to neutrality. This provides insight into policy relevant discussions on how the Austrian neutrality may be enacted in a changing European security environment.