This work investigates the complex political, social, and cultural transformations of Austria from the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867 to the restoration of sovereignty in 1955. John W. Boyer, a distinguished historian of Central Europe, utilizes extensive archival research and historical analysis to map the collapse of the Habsburg Empire and the subsequent development of the Austrian state. The text provides a rigorous framework for understanding how imperial structures, ethnic tensions, and ideological shifts shaped the modern Austrian identity.

Historians and scholars of Central European studies frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the structural evolution of the Austrian state. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for those with a background in European political history.