Return from Exile

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The significant loss to the humanities and social sciences in the 20th century due to the expulsion of scholars and artists from Austria and Central Europe is well recognized. This collection of articles explores a related but less examined aspect: the bureaucratic and ideological challenges faced by exiled scholars and artists wishing to return, alongside essays documenting the varying opportunities for returnees to influence their disciplines post-Nazi rule. The 27 essays emphasize the roles of returnees as mentors for younger scholars, promoting modernization and internationalization amid stagnation in universities. Notable figures in history, philosophy, and political science faced obstacles in securing full academic positions despite their impactful initiatives, while theatre directors significantly influenced cultural programs. The volume also discusses personal hesitations of intellectuals like Oskar Morgenstern and Ernst Krenek, who were reluctant to relinquish US citizenship for academic roles in politically unstable environments. Additionally, many émigrés remained exiles on both sides of the Atlantic. A key strength of the volume is its in-depth examination of exiled Austrian economists, many of whom returned from Britain to shape economic theory and policy, primarily from outside university settings, while transatlantic exiles predominantly stayed in the USA.