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The present article deals with the attempt made in Austria from 1934 to 1938 to found berufständische Gewerkschaften (corporative trade unions) within the framework of the autoritarian system of government. The Gewerkschaftsbund (league of trade-union societies) of the Austrian workmen and employees, whose constitution, structure, basic principles and internal development are being discussed here, was to organize the workmen and employees in compliance with the corporative social order, on the principles of the new social doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Since this attempt was made on the basis of former trade-unionistic organizations, the author dwells on the structure of the Austrian trade unions prior to the break-up of the greatest of the then existing organizations, viz. the "free trade unions". Then follows a detailed examination of the principles of organization of the league of trade-union societies, founded by state decree in March 1934. As this league formed part of the corporative upbuilding initiated by the State, its position is sketched, both within the organization of the State, and as part of the corporative structure. This survey of the corporative structure of Austrian economic life raises the question to what extent the new economic methods are compatible with the basic principles of the Austrian league of trade-union societies. This leads up to the problem how far this league corresponds with the principles laid down by the encyclical Quadragesimo anno. Closely connected with this problem is another question, much contested in Austria between 1934 and 1938, i.e. whether in a completed corporative social order independent workers' associations can exist, separate from the employers' organizations.