Conflictual cultural politics: unpacking local tensions in three Austrian cities

This study reveals that cultural politics in Austria's urban centers are rife with conflict, shaped by power dynamics, agency, and spatial disputes. Focusing on Vienna, Graz, and Linz, it identifies four key conflict types: agential (unequal funding/decision-making), symbolic (instrumentalization of culture), procedural (lack of transparency/collaboration), and spatial (disagreements over public space use). The research, conducted through 30 qualitative interviews, situational mapping, and media analysis between 2020–2022, argues for a conflict-oriented approach to cultural policy. It highlights how COVID-19 both challenged and opened new avenues for public cultural events, underscoring the need to address these tensions in urban planning and governance.

Landau-Donnelly, F., Schad-Spindler, A., Fridrik, S., & Marchart, O. (2023). Conflictual cultural politics: unpacking local tensions in three Austrian cities. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 30(3), 341–356. https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2023.2203723