Is Austria the new secret european superpower?

[Mortimer]

Austria economically unites austro-hungarian areas. I know that in Serbia where I was born there is now Lidl, and all the austrian banks, and businesses. Also Austria has politically influence on balkan, and on central europe. No one thinks of austria as superpower but they have the potential to be. Only country which has the balls to stand up to Erdogan. Kurz said Erdogan will get a "warning" and sanctions from the EU.

[TheMaestro]

Nope

[Jehan]

No,
Superpower, great power, regional power are words with clear definition.
A superpower is a state with a dominant position characterized by its extensive ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale. This is done through the combined means of economic, military, technological and cultural strength as well as diplomatic and soft power influence

Austria has clearly not a large impact worldwide.


When you said "european" you were thinking about regional power? Austria is clearly not, and I doubt it would become one.
In Europe there are already too much "big" countries, so it's hard for a country with less than 10 millions of inhabitants to matter a lot.


The subject interest me. You are right they play economically a role.

[Blondie]

Austria can be great power if they will join to Germany, and after that Wien will be the new capital instead of Berlin. Would be great.

[Faklon]

Lidl is German I think and has indeed colonized most of Europe. Used to be considered low-class here but now a lot more people trust it (and other franchises are way more expensive), French Carrefour went bankrupt here for example.

Austria's biggest success is providing Balkaners with Red Bull so they can argue 24/7 in anthroforums.

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

Lidl is German I think and has indeed colonized most of Europe. Used to be considered low-class here but now a lot more people trust it (and other franchises are way more expensive), French Carrefour went bankrupt here for example.

Austria's biggest success is providing Balkaners with Red Bull so they can argue 24/7 in anthroforums.

Interesting, we have experienced the same in Portugal. For many years Lidl was seen as a suspicious grocery chain with dubious products to the average Portuguese consumer and was mostly frequented by foreigners usually from Eastern Europe. Years later I became to know that Lidl on the contrary was seen as a prestigious chain in Eastern Europe, which kinda explains it.

Nowadays its reputation has improved as they now sell many products that are made in Portugal and\or Spain that are familiar to the average consumer. It took time for people to get used to the concept of Lidl, since the way they organize their shelves makes it look more like a cash and carry rather than a traditional Portuguese grocery store\chain such as Pingo Doce, which puts a lot more emphasis in the way they present their products and also has a butcher and a fish market inside (something that Lidl does not).

Carrefour also went bankrupt in Portugal.

[Jana]

Years later I became to know that Lidl on the contrary was seen as a prestigious chain in Eastern Europe, which kinda explains it.

I don't know for other countries, but in Croatia LIDL is seen as place with cheap food/products. Any large chains are cheaper compared to small neighbourhood stores.
In here children who wear LIDL clothes are mocked (which I find disgusting) by more affluent kids for having to buy there, as it's a symbol of poverty.

[Kyp]

I don't know for other countries, but in Croatia LIDL is seen as place with cheap food/products. Any large chains are cheaper compared to small neighbourhood stores.
In here children who wear LIDL clothes are mocked (which I find disgusting) by more affluent kids for having to buy there, as it's a symbol of poverty.

It's their business model. Similar to Aldi.

[Bender1999]

I like Aldi.

[Vojnik]

Vienna is a fantastic city.

Train from the airport to the city centre. Nice stuff.