In 1938 the „Anschluss“ triggered a veritable wave of migration of Austrian academics to the Americas, which lasted until the end of WW II. Among the thousands who left Austria were also legal scholars. However, due to the different legal system and the language barrier, only very few managed to resume an academic career in the field of law in their new home.
The research project undertakes the attempt of telling the story of transfer of legal thought, schools of thought, Austrian legal constructions – maybe even Austrian norms – to the Americas. It does so by analyzing and discussing the life and scientific work of selected emigré(e)s, all educated at Austrian Law Schools prior to World War II.
By putting the scientific work of these emigré(e)s in context with their lives and networks in exile, the goal of the project is to trace the transfer and development of legal thought, which in some fields of law might stretch right up to the present day. Thus, the story of transfer of legal thought through migration equally becomes the history of three forgotten legal scholars and their impact on legal thought in their new home and beyond.
See also the Project report on SciLog, the FWF science magazine