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Recent developments in the Austrian government, including the rise to power of the rightwing Freedom Party and its controversial leader, Jorg Haider, will be discussed Wednesday (Feb. 16) at a public forum at UNLV.

Representatives of the Austrian and German governments will be among those participating in "Austria vs. the World?" which will take place at 7 p.m. in the Classroom Building Complex, Room C-213. Itis free and open to the public.

Participating in the discussion will be Harald Gunther, deputy consul general of the Republic of Austria; Sigrid Sommer, honorary consul of the Federal Republic of Germany; Anne Bennett, UNLV assistant professor of political science; and Daniel Villanueva, UNLV assistant professor of foreign languages.

"Suddenly Austria has jumped on to the front pages of newspapers with seemingly no warning," said Villanueva. "With Jorg Haider and his right-wing Freedom Party now in a coalition government with the mainstream conservative Austrian People's Party, Austria has, for the first time since World War II, a party in government whose leader for years has made controversial pronouncements regarding Hitler, the Jewish people, non-Austrians, and the European Union.

"The Freedom Party's new governmental role has caused diplomatic ruptures on both sides of the Atlantic, tensions with Israel, and apprehensiveness among older Europeans and Americans who remember all too well the dangers of demagogues," Villanueva said.

Among the questions to be explored at the forum are:

- Are Jorg Haider and his party a danger to democracy, human rights, and peace?

- What are the appropriate international responses to his party being part of the Austrian government?

- Are people making too much oftoo little, or could 1933 really repeat itself?

For additional information, call Villanueva at 895-1688.