Eurovision as a Reflection of Geopolitical Conflicts

Behind the glamour and cultural significance of Eurovision - the final of which will take place on Saturday in Vienna - lie much more serious international geopolitical tensions. This was stated by the creator of the world's first university course on the popular music competition, according to media reports.

Historian Dean Vuletic leads an EU-funded research project at the University of Vienna, focusing on the annual Eurovision contest as a means for diplomacy and socio-political messaging.

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'This is an effective tool for storytelling because the contest encourages people to talk about political issues through cultural references.', - Vuletic stated in an interview.

For example, the song contest has served as a 'mirror' for the complex relations between the West and the USSR during the Cold War.

The participation of communist Yugoslavia in Eurovision in 1961 - just six years after the contest was launched - helped to demonstrate that this Eastern European nation was most open to Western cultural influences, the historian claims. 'Yugoslavia was the only communist country to participate in the contest throughout the Cold War.', he added.

Meanwhile, Austria sent a 'highly symbolic message' in 1968 when Soviet tanks suppressed the Prague Spring, sending Czech singer Karel Gott as its representative.

'From Austria's perspective, this was an expression of support for the reforms that were taking place and a desire for closer ties with eastern neighbors.', Dean Vuletic reported.

After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Eurovision gained even greater political significance as former Eastern Bloc countries joined the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the song contest. There were no political or economic requirements - all countries gained open access to public television. Since the early 1990s, the EBU was indeed the first Western European organization that became available to former communist countries. 'Countries used television as a forum in which they could express and assert their aspirations for European integration.', the historian believes.

After many Eastern European countries became NATO members and ultimately joined the European Union, Eurovision lost some of its value: 'It is obvious that many states stopped putting in as much effort into the contest after their political objectives were achieved.', Vuletic noted.

In more recent times, tensions have flared up again in relations between the West and Russia, particularly due to the conflict in Ukraine, and this also plays out on the Eurovision stage.

In 2014, at the contest in Copenhagen, just two months after the illegal annexation of Crimea, representatives from Russia, the Tolmachevy Sisters, were booed by the audience in the final. In contrast, the bearded drag queen from Austria, Conchita Wurst, received wild applause from the audience and was awarded victory in the contest.

Conchita thus became a symbol of Western liberal values, especially in light of Russia's openly anti-gay position.

In 2015, Ukraine did not attend the Eurovision contest. Russia was represented by singer Polina Gagarina with the song 'A Million Voices,' which received quite positive feedback. By the way, Polina was cordial with Conchita Wurst, who is hated in Russia.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Eastern Ukraine continues, and the results of the current Eurovision may reflect the prevailing political sentiments in Europe.