Comparative Literature in Austria: Between Socio-Literary Approaches and Literary Theory

This chapter analyses the field of comparative literature in Austria, where the discipline is strong. Austria’s two main departments have traditionally been oriented towards (1) Eastern and Central Europe with a strong focus on theory (Innsbruck) and towards (2) social-literary approaches and the Romance languages (Vienna). The presence of comparative literature in curricula also at other Austrian universities underlines the pronounced interest for the subject. Furthermore, both departments have always had strong international relations that became most visible in the organization of the ICLA world congresses in 1979 (Innsbruck) and 2016 (Vienna).