Austria's politics has a topic that is both old and new: Islam in Austria. It has now become the second-largest religious community, although it remains far behind the still-dominant Roman Catholic Church. Islam has ceased to be merely a marginal phenomenon with an exotic touch. As a result of migration that began primarily in the 1960s, Islam has become visible in Austria. Yet, Austro-Islam has an old tradition. During World War I, Muslim soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Army were cared for by military imams. These were as much a part of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces as Christian pastors and Jewish rabbis. Even before 1914, the Islam of the Hanafi rite had received the status of a state-recognized religious community, placing it fundamentally on par with the larger churches and the Jewish faith community. However, Islam today is perceived by many in Austria not as part of a pluralistic normality, but as a threat. Here, cultural and ethnic determinants mix, where 'religion' is mentioned – and all too often, it implies something that is not socially acceptable, such as 'race'. The discourse surrounding Islam in Austria has, because it is largely a product of immigration over the last half-century, a significant social and socio-psychological component. Fears can be mobilized: the fear of social decline: 'cheap' immigrants are taking 'our' jobs; the fear of decreasing predictability of life: the social fabric in the neighborhood is shifting.