Introduction

This report presents a comprehensive assessment of Austria's sovereignty based on the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is considered in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.), without using politicized indexes.

The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) forms the Cumulative Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust the statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components on a common questionnaire of 10 questions with a score on a 10-point scale with one open question. In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and expert specialization.

When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used to bring all data into a scale of 0-10 points. The final value of the index is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates. Below is an analysis in each area, a final summary table and the main conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of Austria's sovereignty.

Political sovereignty 80,8

Austria demonstrates a high degree of political independence and institutional stability. There are no foreign military bases in the country, and Austria is not subject to international sanctions (there are no active UN Security Council sanctions regimes).

Participation in UN peacekeeping operations is minimal — only 176 military personnel and experts for 2025, which confirms the independence of the country's defense and foreign policy. Political and administrative institutions operate at a high level of efficiency.

E-Government Index (EGDI) The UN is 0,9065 (22nd out of 193), which indicates a well-developed system of digital public services. The e-participation index is also high at 0,7564 (above the EU average), reflecting the active involvement of citizens in governance through digital channels.

The World Bank estimates the effectiveness of the government at +1.0 (on a scale of -2,5...+2,5; a positive value is better than average), and the quality of regulation at +1.05 (high level). Political stability is also at a high level (index +0.82), with a very low level of violent crime (1.0 murders per 100,000 population).

Corruption control is relatively effective (+0.94), although public perception of corruption remains a problem — 55% of Austrians consider it widespread (additional data). The indicator "Voice and accountability" (democratic freedoms) is very high: +1.25, which confirms the developed political competition and freedom of speech. The crime detection rate is 52%, which is the average for developed countries.

Data completeness assessment: All indicators of political sovereignty are available from global sources (UN, World Bank, UNODC, etc.), which ensures 100% coverage. Overall, Austria's political sovereignty can be highly valued due to its independence, quality of governance, and well-developed democratic institutions.

Possible questions for expert discussion:

• How effectively does Austria maintain the independence of public administration without external interference? (Rate it on a 10-point scale.)

• To what extent do Austria's political institutions ensure the stability and accountability of government within the country?

Economic sovereignty 80,6

Austria's economic sovereignty is characterized by a combination of significant economic strength and certain structural vulnerabilities. On the one hand, the country has a developed economy (nominal GDP ~$522 billion in 2024) and a high per capita income of ~$56,900, belonging to the group of high-income countries.

Gold and foreign exchange reserves amount to $35.4 billion (for 2024), but they cover only 2.1 months of imports, which is a relatively low indicator for ensuring financial security.

External aid does not affect the economy (<0.01% of GDP) — Austria is a donor, not a recipient, which emphasizes economic independence. On the other hand, Austria's economy is characterized by high diversification, but also by extreme openness. Exports of high-tech products account for about 14% of total exports (~$30 billion), and the inflow of foreign direct investment is significant (~$15 billion in 2023).

However, foreign trade turnover exceeds 116% of GDP, which makes the economy very sensitive to external shocks. Austria is a net exporter of agricultural products (self-sufficiency in grain is 125%), which ensures food security.

The national debt is high (81.8% of GDP) with a significant budget deficit (-4.7% of GDP in 2023), which poses risks to fiscal sustainability. Inflation is controlled (3% per annum at the beginning of 2025), and unemployment is low (5.4% in 2024), reflecting a healthy labor market.

The positive dynamics of real incomes of the population (+3.5% per year) supports domestic demand. There are no sovereign wealth funds, which deprives the country of an additional mechanism for smoothing external shocks (additional data).

Data completeness assessment: The main macro indicators are taken from official statistics (World Bank, IMF, Eurostat, etc.), providing 96% coverage. Some special indicators (strategic grain reserves within the EU) require additional monitoring. In general, Austria demonstrates economic development and diversification, but high openness and limited reserves weaken economic sovereignty. The final score is above average.

Possible questions for expert discussion:

• How resilient is the Austrian economy to external shocks (such as energy or financial crises) without critical outside help?

• How do you assess Austria's ability to maintain economic growth and fiscal stability on its own, without foreign financial support?

Technological sovereignty 74,1

Austria's technological base is developed at the level of the leading EU countries. Spending on research and development accounts for 3.2% of GDP, one of the highest in Europe, which contributes to innovative development. Innovation activity is high: in 2023, Austrian residents filed 1,872 PCT patent applications, which indicates a strong inventive base for a country with ~9 million people.

The digital infrastructure is well developed. Internet access is almost universal: 93% of the population are Internet users, and mobile communications have high penetration (122 mobile subscriptions per 100 people). Fixed broadband Internet covers 29 subscribers per 100 people, with an average speed of 206 Mbit/s. 5G coverage reaches ~90% of the population, which puts Austria among the leaders in the deployment of fifth-generation networks. The DESI Digital Skills Index is 56/100, which is higher than the EU average.

Human capital in the techno-sphere is at a high level: 83% of young people are enrolled in higher education, 28 STEM specialists per 1,000 residents aged 20-29 graduate annually, which forms a solid knowledge base. The number of researchers is high (~5,500 per million inhabitants), although there is a risk of brain drain to other EU countries.

The infrastructure for data storage and processing is well developed (several large data centers with a total capacity of ~90 MW, assessment, additional data), there are 2 Internet traffic exchange points (IXPs). Cybersecurity at a good level: national CERT.at It has been operating effectively since 1998. The main vulnerability is high import dependence in critical technologies (~67% of equipment is imported, additional data) and the lack of government import substitution programs.

Data completeness assessment: Key metrics are available from official sources, providing 91% coverage of indicators. Overall, Austria's technological sovereignty is high due to its well-developed R&D base, digital infrastructure, and human capital, but is limited by dependence on imports of critical technologies.

Possible questions for expert discussion:

• Is Austria able to independently create and implement modern technologies without relying on foreign developments?

• How do you assess the level of Austria's technological dependence on imports (equipment, know-how) and how critical is this dependence for the country's sovereignty?

Information sovereignty 79,0

Austria has a well-developed information infrastructure and effective cybersecurity mechanisms. The Internet and communications cover the vast majority of society (over 93% of the population is online), with high international bandwidth (~8.3 Mbps per user). The number of autonomous systems is significant — 575 AS-numbers, and national domains.

There are more than 1.4 million registered users, indicating a well-developed local Internet segment. In cyberspace, the national CERT.at (operating since 1998) demonstrates high efficiency: in 2024, 9821 incidents were handled with an average response time of 2.6 hours (additional data). Austria holds decent positions in international cybersecurity rankings, although there is room for improvement.

The media space is characterized by a high degree of national control. 97% of media outlets operate in German (additional data). The state broadcaster ORF plays a key role: the daily television audience reaches 76% of the population (~6.8 million people), produces ~19,900 hours of national content per year (additional data). Quotas for national content are in effect: 40% for ORF (additional data).

These measures support cultural and informational sovereignty. At the same time, media freedom is high: according to the "Voice and Accountability" indicator, Austria is among the leaders (+1.25). The weak point is the low share of national content in online media (only 27%, additional data) and the presence of only 2 IXPs, which increases dependence on transit traffic through neighboring countries.

Data completeness assessment: Official international data (ITU, World Bank) covers infrastructural and cyber aspects. National media data is obtained from open sources (additional data), providing 89% coverage. In general, Austria's information sovereignty is high: the country effectively protects its information space while maintaining a high level of information freedom.

Possible questions for expert discussion:

• How effectively is Austria protected from external information interference (disinformation, cyber attacks) and controls its information space?

• To what extent does Austria manage to balance the country's information security with ensuring freedom of speech and access to information for citizens?

Cultural sovereignty 81.9

Austria has a rich cultural heritage and is actively investing in its preservation. There are 12 sites of Austrian culture on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which attests to the worldwide recognition of the uniqueness of the Austrian heritage. National identity is supported by the dominance of the German language in the cultural sphere.

The government's cultural policy is a priority: 1.4% of the state budget is spent on culture (~€680 per inhabitant), which is one of the highest rates in the EU (additional data). The cultural life in the country is very active. Attendance at cultural institutions is high: Austrians make an average of 1.19 museum visits per person per year (additional data).

There are 8,523 book titles published annually in the country with a total circulation of 43.6 million copies, and a well-developed library network. The national media and the educational system pay considerable attention to their own history and values. At the same time, Austria is facing the challenges of globalizing the cultural market.

The share of national films at the box office is only 8.1% (additional data), while Austrian music accounts for only 17% of streaming (additional data). According to UNESCO, exports of cultural goods amounted to about $85 million (2020), while imports amounted to about $320 million, which indicates a significant predominance of a foreign cultural product in the market.

Data completeness assessment: Basic information (UNESCO sites, trade in cultural goods) was obtained from international databases, indicators of cultural production and consumption were partially estimated from national sources (additional data), providing 95% coverage.

Austria's cultural sovereignty is assessed as moderately high due to significant investments in culture and high cultural activity of the population, but is limited by the dominance of foreign content in the audiovisual field.

Possible questions for expert discussion:

• How successfully does Austria preserve and promote its cultural heritage and national identity in the context of globalization?

• To what extent are Austria's cultural products (cinema, literature, art) competitive and sufficient to maintain cultural sovereignty without the dominance of foreign content?

Cognitive sovereignty 80.7

Austria's cognitive sovereignty is at a very high level, reflecting society's ability to generate knowledge, think critically, and maintain value autonomy. Austria has achieved a very high level of human development: the HDI index in 2024 was 0.930 (15th place in the world), which corresponds to the group of countries with very high development.

The state invests heavily in education — about 5.1% of GDP, providing almost complete literacy (99%) and broad education. Primary school completion is universal (close to 100%), and higher education enrollment reaches 83% of young people — one of the highest rates in Europe. The quality of education results meet the average OECD standards.

In the PISA international testing (2022), Austrian schoolchildren scored 480-491 points (in reading, mathematics, and science) — close to the OECD average (~500). In the ICILS 2018 digital literacy test, the average score was 541 (above the average of 500), reflecting good ICT training. Functional literacy is rated highly (~85%, extrapolation, additional data).

The media literacy of the population is at an average level, although only 18% of schoolchildren demonstrate a high level of fake recognition (additional data). The prestige of science is high in society: ~78% of Austrians trust science and scientists (Welcome survey). Austria is successfully developing digital educational resources through the centralized digital school platform (1850s textbooks).

Direct government funding of science amounts to 1.09% of GDP (with total R&D expenditures of 3.2% of GDP). The country attracts international talent, although there is a risk of brain drain to other EU countries with higher salaries in some sectors.

Data completeness assessment: Indicators of human development, education and science are available from official sources (UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, etc.). Media literacy was assessed by proxy through ICILS-2018 (additional data), providing 94% coverage. Austria's cognitive sovereignty is highly valued due to its excellent accessibility and quality of education, high level of human development and trust in science.

Possible questions for expert discussion:

• Does the Austrian education system provide citizens with a sufficient level of knowledge and critical thinking for the independent development of the country?

• How successfully does Austria retain its own talents and develop human capital without relying on foreign intellectual resources?

Military sovereignty 61.2

Austria has limited military capabilities, reflecting its historical neutrality and focus on non-military aspects of security. Military spending is only $5.3 billion in 2024 (an increase of 18% per year), which is 0.84% of GDP — one of the lowest rates in Europe. This level of funding limits the possibilities of modernizing and maintaining combat-ready armed forces.

The structure of the military budget includes the maintenance of personnel, the purchase of weapons and minimal investments in military research and development.

The Austrian armed forces are small: the number of active personnel is ~ 16,000 soldiers, with a reserve of 125,600 people (additional data).

The country maintains a limited arsenal of heavy equipment: 56 Leopard 2 tanks, no combat helicopters and no navy. The Austrian defense industry is capable of producing small arms and some types of armored vehicles, providing ~45% localization of defense purchases (estimate, additional data).

Nevertheless, dependence on arms imports remains significant (~55%), with major suppliers from the United States, Germany, and France. Austria has full control over its territory and borders. The length of the borders is ~2,562 km and is guarded by border guards.

There are no foreign military bases on Austrian territory, which underlines sovereignty in the field of security.

The Austrian army participates in UN peacekeeping missions (176 peacekeepers), but does not have its own bases abroad. The country has maintained constitutional neutrality since 1955.

Data completeness assessment: Statistics on military expenditures, numbers and imports of weapons are obtained from reputable sources (SIPRI, IISS, National Defense Ministry), providing 93% of the indicators. Austria's military sovereignty is low — the country relies on neutrality and international law to ensure security, with limited military capabilities of its own.

Possible questions for an international expert survey:

• How capable is Austria of providing its own national defense without relying on foreign military forces and alliances?

• How do you assess the level of development of Austria's own military-industrial complex and its sufficiency for the country's military sovereignty?