Voices for a world in-between? Exile media as transnational fulcrums between confidence and fear
- In this chapter we use the historical case of the exile newspaper, the Austro American Tribune (AAT) published from 1943 to 1948 in New York City, to demonstrate the importance of exile publications for coping with fear and to voice the legitimate struggle of (political) refugees in everyday life and to reinforce and negotiate identities in uncertain times. We identify three different phases of voicing identity and dealing with fear in the AAT. Phase 1 emphasizes the Austrian people and Austrian qualities as opposed to the Nazis/Germans. Using the paper to disseminate fear of the Nazis was instrumental for the people in exile in this phase. Phase 2 is characterized by the slow understanding that the Heimat does not exist anymore and won’t be rebuilt as imagined, while America cannot replace what has been lost and remains the other. Some of their observations, especially regarding harassment and hostility toward minorities and foreigners, turn out to be triggers for fear reminiscent ofIn this chapter we use the historical case of the exile newspaper, the Austro American Tribune (AAT) published from 1943 to 1948 in New York City, to demonstrate the importance of exile publications for coping with fear and to voice the legitimate struggle of (political) refugees in everyday life and to reinforce and negotiate identities in uncertain times. We identify three different phases of voicing identity and dealing with fear in the AAT. Phase 1 emphasizes the Austrian people and Austrian qualities as opposed to the Nazis/Germans. Using the paper to disseminate fear of the Nazis was instrumental for the people in exile in this phase. Phase 2 is characterized by the slow understanding that the Heimat does not exist anymore and won’t be rebuilt as imagined, while America cannot replace what has been lost and remains the other. Some of their observations, especially regarding harassment and hostility toward minorities and foreigners, turn out to be triggers for fear reminiscent of experiences of oppression made back in the old Heimat. Phase 3 finally marks the transition to the end of the exile status. The case of the Austro American Tribune shows how exile publications served as platforms for identity management for the refugees and makes visible their struggle for loyalty and identification in a period of transition. Exile publications mediated between fear (from what was happening back home and what is happening now), despair (about the loss of Heimat and the often-miserable prospects), and confidence (that there can still be a better future).…
