Public interpretations of neutrality: ideological and identity-based drivers of neutrality attitudes in Austria

Austria’s policy of neutrality remains a central element of the country’s foreign policy identity, yet citizens do not necessarily interpret neutrality in the same way. While neutrality is often treated as a clearly defined legal principle in political and academic debates, public understandings of neutrality may vary considerably. This article examines how Austrian citizens interpret neutrality and which factors shape these interpretations. Using representative data from the 2024 Security and Defence Policy Opinion Survey (N = 1400), the study identifies four distinct interpretations of neutrality and examines the social and political drivers associated with them. Multinomial logistic regression models suggest that political orientation, education, county of residence, migration background, attitudes towards neutrality, European identity and attitudes towards foreign policies significantly predict the participant’s neutrality definition. The results highlight that neutrality is not only a legal framework but also a socially embedded concept shaped by political attitudes and identity-related perspectives. To ensure that neutrality remains a relevant pillar in Austrian foreign policies, targeted education and outreach campaigns that contextualize Austria’s geopolitical role may be necessary to bridge knowledge gaps apparent in the Austrian population.