The essay provides a detailed analysis of the Communist Party of Austria’s (KPÖ) policy
in relation to the events in the Alps-Adriatic region after WWII. The territorial dispute
between Austria and Yugoslavia over Carinthia shows the gap between national politics
and internationalism at the heart of the strategy pursued by this communist party. In
fact, while the KPÖ openly praised the achievements of Yugoslavian socialism and supported
its claims on Trieste, it rejected Belgrade’s territorial demands on Austria. The
relationship between the two parties, however, developed quite positively until Stalin’s
break with Tito. Although part of the party was incredulous with respect to the denunciation
that Tito was a traitor to communism, the KPÖ still chose the path of total alignment
with Stalin’s dictation. In the case of South Tyrol, however, the Austrian party first
demanded the right of self-determination and thereafter, in 1946, sought to install itself
as a leading force in the region, referring to the possibility of creating a section of the
KPÖ south of the Brenner. However, the PCI proved determined not to leave the rather
limited reins of South Tyrolean communism in Austrian hands
