FORVM

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FORVM was an

CIA-funded Congress for Cultural Freedom (CCF). Torberg also edited the magazine from its start in 1954 to 1965.[1] In 1965 Günther Nenning took over as editor and in 1986 Gerhard Oberschlick
.

The magazine was distributed internationally and instigated ideological debates. In 1995, the magazine closed down due to financial difficulties. In 2004 a complete reprint was published.

History

Friedrich Torberg era (1954–1965)

In 1966, 12 years after the foundation of FORVM, publications including

Saturday Evening Post reported that the magazine's funding came from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with the aim of undermining leftist groups of intellectuals around the world and turning them against communism as part of the Cultural Cold War. The CIA website states that "[t]he Congress for Cultural Freedom is widely considered one of the CIA's more daring and effective Cold War covert operations."[2]

Other magazines funded by the CCF included Der Monat in Western Berlin, Preuves in Paris, Tempo Presente in Rome, Cuadernos in Paris, Encounter in London, as well as Freedom First in Bombay, Solidarity in the Philippines, Quadrant in Australia, Hiwar (magazine) in Lebanon, Examen in Mexico, and others.[3][4]

FORVM was never an easy partner to its sponsors. Its first issue had already caused controversy by printing an argument between

Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder. Although the magazine focused mainly on theater and literature, FORVM also printed notable dialogues between church and state, discourses between the dominating ideologies of the time, and important texts on social sciences. But the rigid and fierce anti-communism
of Torberg increasingly became a problem to the magazine's sponsors, who repeatedly warned the editor, then limited their funding in 1961, then finally stopped support entirely in 1964. When the new financier of FORVM, Hans Deutsch, also pulled back in 1965, Torberg decided to give up his position. Nenning, who had served as editor-in-chief since 1958, became the new owner and editor.

Günther Nenning era (1966–1986)

Günther Nenning declared himself to be a "Christian and socialist," and opened FORVM to leftist thoughts and ideas. Due to Torberg's opposition to this change, Nenning had to rename the magazine to NEUES FORVM (New Forvm) until Torberg died in 1979. Nenning raised the circulation from 2,700 to nearly 30,000.[

Ministry of the Interior reacted harshly, confiscating the magazine. This step was later declared unconstitutional, leading to the end of government censorship in Austria. The Nenning years were dominated by hearty discussions about Austria's constitution and neutrality, the law of nature, Vergangenheitsbewältigung, the sexual revolution, Viennese Actionism, and terrorism
.

From 1973 to 1982 Michael Siegert served as editor-in-chief. Even more than Torberg or Nenning before him, Siegert heavily adapted some of the articles FORVM printed, thereby angering some authors.

union and the Social Democratic Party of Austria
. In 1986 he sold the magazine to Gerhard Oberschlick.

Gerhard Oberschlick era (1986–1995)

The new editor quickly had to reposition the magazine.

Nazi ideology opened a wide field of discussion and controversy. FORVM served as a stable lighthouse of anti-fascism, avidly opposing any kind of racism and xenophobia. In 1992 Hans Lebert received the Grillparzer Award, donated by German Alfred Toepfer in German Marks. Although ill and not able to participate in the ceremony, Lebert wrote an ardent speech, red by actor Wolfgang Gasser, famous for his performance in a play by Thomas Bernhard at the Burgtheater. In it Lebert warned against the attempts of a new Anschluss, culminating in the exclaim: "Austrians, save your country yourselves!"[9] The speech caused a scandal, the German ambassador Philipp Jenninger was upset and left early, and Oberschlick, who had printed the speech secretly, had it distributed - as a special issue of FORVM - at the end of the ceremony at the University of Vienna
.

Relevant authors

       

Publications

References

  1. S2CID 245850463
    .
  2. ^ Sydney Hook. (1949). Origins of the Congress for Cultural Freedom, 1949-50
  3. S2CID 239225354
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1565846647
    .
  5. ^ FORVM, Special Edition, Spring 1994
  6. ^ see also: Michael Siegert: De Sade und Wir. Frankfurt am Main (Makol Marxismus Bibliothek mab 16) 1971.
  7. ^ One example: Rudi Dutschke: Die allergrößte Sauerei. In: FORVM, XXV, 299/300, p. 4.
  8. ^ Gerhard Oberschlick: Das Konrad Lorenz-Millionen-Bingo. In: Wochenpresse Nr. 52/1/December 24, 1984, p. 22-23
  9. ^ This was a reference to Kurt Schuschnigg's last speech as chancellor of Austria, before Hitler invaded the country, ending with the words: "God save Austria!"

External links

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