u:eastasia lectures

University of Vienna - Department of East Asian Studies


East Asian Reactions to Russia’s War in Ukraine: Governmental and Civil Society Responses

19.05.2022 17:00 - 19:00

A hybrid u:eastasia lecture by Alfred Gerstl, Olga Khomenko, Steven Denney & Martin Mandl, moderated by Agnes S. Schick-Chen

| Record |

| Abstract |

While the European Union and its member states strongly condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February and have since provided humanitarian or even military support to Ukraine, the responses of the governments in Northeast and Southeast Asia are less unified. Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan joined the Western countries in sanctioning Russia, clearly emphasizing Russia’s responsibility for launching the war. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida drew a parallel to China’s perceived assertiveness in the South and East China Sea. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized the unity of the Ukrainian citizens “to fight against the invasion by a powerful country”. Other nations, including Indonesia and Vietnam, but also the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), do neither make comparison to China’s policies nor openly criticize Russia. Rather, they demand to end the war, find a peaceful resolution and refer to rather abstract principles of international law.

This panel discussion will analyze the various strategic, economic and domestic motives of the governments to either unequivocally condemn Russia or to avoid naming and shaming Moscow. Moreover, the panelists will also (discuss the) point to different reactions of civil societies in East Asia which are not necessarily in line with the positions taken by the respective national governments. The spectrum is (also very) quite broad (and not necessarily in line with the positions taken by the respective national governments), ranging from strong support for Ukraine to some sympathies for “strongman” Vladimir Putin allegedly fighting against a US-dominated international order. By bringing together the perspectives of the national governments and the civil societies, this panel aims to initiate a multi-facetted (and comprehensive) discussion of East Asian reactions to Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

| Discussants | 

Alfred Gerstl is Associate Professor at the Department of Asian Studies at Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic) and President of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS), a transnational think tank (Bratislava, Olomouc and Vienna). In addition, he is sessional lecturer at East Asian Economy and Society (EcoS) and University of Continuing Education Krems. He is a specialist in International Relations, notably on Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. His recent research focuses on the economic and strategic impacts of China’s Belt and Road Initiative on Southeast Asia and the South China Sea dispute.

Dr. Olga Khomenko is an Associate Professor and Japan Program Director at Kyiv Mohyla Business School (KMBS),The National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy Ukraine. She holds a PhD in Area Studies, specifically on the history of Japan,from the University of Tokyo (2005), a PhD in world history from the Ukrainian Academy of Science (2013), and an MBA from the Kyiv School of Economics (2017). From 2018 to 2020, she was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, USA, at the Ukrainian Research Institute and Davis Center. Her research interests include the history of postwar Japan, consumption culture, Ukraine-Japan relations.

Dr. Steven Denney is a lecturer of East Asian Economy and Society in the Department of East Asia Studies at the University of Vienna. He is a comparativist that specializes in East Asian affairs with a focus on the Koreas. His core research interests lie at the intersection of migration, citizenship, and entrepreneurship studies. He also reads and contributes to studies in democracy and authoritarianism. Steven holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto, an M.A. in Global Affairs and Policy from Yonsei University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Harding University.

Martin Mandl is a Junior Researcher at CEIAS and an Editorial Member of “ASIEN – The German Journal of Contemporary Asia”. He teaches on the political systems and international relations of East Asia and offers intercultural training on the region. As a passionate cook and former hospitality manager, Martin’s research is focused on the use of food in Taiwan’s public diplomacy.

| Moderator |

Agnes S. Schick-Chen is Associate Professor of Chinese Studies and Vice-Director of Studies at the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Vienna. Her main fields of research and teaching are the developments of legal and political culture in the PRC, Taiwan and Hong Kong. She has published books and papers on related topics, e.g. the discourse on Chinese legal culture and processes of coming to terms with the past in China and Taiwan.

| Date & Time |

u:japan lecture | s04e09
u:eastasia lecture #3
Thursday 2022-05-19, 17:00~19:00
max. 50 participants (on site) + max. 300 participants (online) 

| Place & Preparations | 

| Plattform & Link |

... and STREAMED online
https://univienna.zoom.us/j/68273481009?pwd=ak9TSUpiZkd3OXh6Y1JWRWVUd0gzZz09 
Meeting-ID: 682 7348 1009 | PW: 623081

Instructions and Netiquette (in English and German)
How to join a lecture via Zoom Meeting (in English)
Frequently Asked Questions (in English)

| Further Questions? |

Please contact ujapanlectures.ostasien@univie.ac.at or visit https://japanologie.univie.ac.at/ujapanlectures/s04/#e09.

Organiser:

Institut für Ostasienwissenschaften - Japanologie

Artist Talk: Okada Toshiki im Gespräch mit Andreas Regelsberger (Universität Trier)

21.11.2021 13:00 - 15:00

A hybrid u:eastasia lecture with Okada Toshiki (dramatist and director)

| Info |

Am Sonntag, den 21.11.2021, wird der japanische Regisseur Okada Toshiki zu Gast an der Japanologie der Universität Wien sein.

Okada, der zur Zeit eine Gastprofessur an der Universität Leipzig innehat, befindet sich aus Anlass der Festwochen in Wien. Seine Theaterproduktion „Keshigomu yama“  (Eraser Mountain) wird im Rahmen des Festwochen-Programms am 19., 20. und 21. November jeweils ab 20:00 im Museumsquartier gezeigt; am 20.11. findet dort im Anschluss an die Aufführung ein Publikumsgespräch statt (Genaueres siehe www.festwochen.at/eraser-mountain).

Wir freuen uns, dass Okada unserer Einladung gefolgt ist und uns zusätzlich zum offiziellen Festwochen-Programm an der Wiener Japanologie besuchen wird. Am Sonntag, den 21.11.2021 findet im Seminarraum 1 der Japanologie auf dem Universitäts-Campus von 13:00-15:00 ein vom Japanologen und Theaterwissenschaftler Prof. Dr. Andreas Regelsberger (Universität Trier) moderiertes Gespräch mit Okada statt; im Anschluss können Fragen aus dem Publikum gestellt werden. Das Event findet vor Ort statt, wird aber gleichzeitig live gestreamt.

Wegen der aktuell geltenden Corona-Maßnahmen können maximal 25 Personen vor Ort teilnehmen. Wir bitten daher um eine verbindliche Anmeldung per Mail (ujapanlectures.ostasien@univie.ac.at). Bei der Veranstaltung gilt außerdem die 2,5-G-Regel; bringen Sie daher bitte Ihren Impf-/Genesenen-/Testnachweis mit. 

| Bio |

Okada Toshiki geboren 1973 in Yokohama, ist Dramatiker und Regisseur. Er gründete 1997 das Ensemble chelfitsch, für das er alle Stücke schreibt und Regie führt. In seinen Arbeiten beschäftigen ihn kulturelle Umbrüche und ihre gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen, vor allem im heutigen Japan. Seine unverwechselbare Methode, skurrile Texte in umgangssprachlichem Japanisch mit einer außergewöhnlichen Bewegungssprache zu verbinden, gilt als stilprägend für eine neue Generation japanischer Künstler*innen und brachte ihm internationale Anerkennung ein. Darüber hinaus veröffentlicht Toshiki Okada Kurzgeschichten, Prosa und theaterwissenschaftliche Texte. Seine Produktionen wurden bei Festivals und in Kunstzentren sowie an Theatern in 70 Städten auf drei Kontinenten gezeigt und mit mehreren Preisen ausgezeichnet, u. a. dem prestigeträchtigen Kishida Kunio Drama Award für Five Days in March (2005). Seit der Spielzeit 2016/2017 inszeniert er auch regelmäßig für die Münchner Kammerspiele, zuletzt das Schauspiel The Vacuum Cleaner (2019), das mit einer Einladung zum Berliner Theatertreffen 2020 geehrt wurde. Ebenfalls 2020 wurde er für seine Arbeit Pratthana – A Portrait of Posession, eine Kooperation mit thailändischen Künstler*innen, mit dem Spezialpreis der Yomiuri Theater Awards ausgezeichnet. Bei den Wiener Festwochen waren bisher seine Inszenierungen Freetime (2008), Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner, and the Farewell Speech (2010), The Sonic Life of a Giant Tortoise (2011) und Five Days in March Re-creation (2019) zu Gast. (https://www.festwochen.at/toshiki-okada)

| Date & Time |

u:eastasia lecture | #2
Sunday 2021-11-21, 13:00~15:00
max. 300 participants (online) max. 25 participants (live) 

| Place & Registration | 

LIVE @ Campus of the University of Vienna (registration required!)
Department of East Asian Studies, Japanese Studies
Spitalgasse 2, Hof 2.4 (Campus), 1090 Vienna, Austria

Please bear in mind, that strict CoVid-precautions are enforced, therefore
- bring and wear a FFP2-mask,
- provide a proof that you are recovered or vaccinated and preferable also tested (2G rule; 2G+ recommended) and
- register beforehand:
To register for the live event, please send an email to ujapanlectures.ostasien@univie.ac.at  with your full name and telephone number.

Please visit these links for university's special and general information regarding the current restrictions.

| Plattform & Link |

... and STREAMED online (no registration required)
LINK: https://univienna.zoom.us/j/97227384721?pwd=a2dxTDA2SjJ0Ri9SbnM1Ym5LMFlsdz09
Meeting-ID: 972 2738 4721 | PW: 949254

Instructions and Netiquette (in English and German)
How to join a lecture via Zoom Meeting (in English)
Frequently Asked Questions (in English)

| Further Questions? |

Please contact ujapanlectures.ostasien@univie.ac.at our visit https://japanologie.univie.ac.at/ueastasialectures#2.

| Okada Toshiki @ WIENER FEST WOCHEN |

消しゴム山 ERASER MOUNTAIN (Toshiki Okada / chelfitsch, Teppei Kaneuji)
Dates: Friday 19th, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st November,
Time: 8pm / Duration: 2 hr 20 min / Prices: EUR 20 / 30
Location: Halle G im MuseumsQuartier
Language: Japanese with English and German surtitles
https://www.festwochen.at/en/eraser-mountain

Soft Power in Taiwan and Japan: Contesting Visions of Culture and Democracy

21.09.2021 16:00 - 17:30

A hybrid u:eastasia lecture by Nissim Otmazgin (Hebrew University of Jerusalem).

| Record |

u:eastasia lectures #1 - Nissim Otmazgin
Soft Power in Taiwan and Japan:
Contesting Visions of Culture and Democracy

| Abstract |

How do Taiwanese and Japanese officials view democracy and culture and how do they plan to utilise these soft power resources as part of advancing their international position? Based primarily on interviews conducted with state officials in Taiwan and Japan, this talk will analyse these countries' attempt to reposition themselves in the global and regional soft power competition. Specifically, this talk will discuss the institutional and geopolitical constrains Taiwan and Japan are facing when trying to implement a soft power policy and address the internal disagreements over utilising their cultural and democratic achievements. In the case of Taiwan, at least, the talk concludes that despite the ability of soft power to assist its international agenda, it faces a few major institutional and conceptual obstacles, keeping Taiwanese diplomacy in a transitional period from old thinking regarding culture and diplomacy while hesitantly evaluating its soft power resources.

| Bio |

Nissim Otmazgin is the incoming Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research interests include soft power and cultural diplomacy in Asia, Japan-Southeast Asian relations, Japanese and Korean media industries, and popular culture and regionalization in East and Southeast Asia. He is the author of Regionalizing Culture: the Political Economy of Japanese Popular Culture in Asia (University of Hawaii Press, 2013), and (together with Miki Daliot-Bul) The Anime Boom in the US: Lessons for Global Creative Industries (Harvard Asia Center, forthcoming).

| Date & Time |

u:eastasia lecture | #1
Tuesday 2021-09-21, 16:00~17:30
max. 300 participants (online) max. 25 participants (live) 

| Place & Registration | 

LIVE @ Campus of the University of Vienna (registration required!)
Department of East Asian Studies, Japanese Studies
Spitalgasse 2, Hof 2.4 (Campus), 1090 Vienna, Austria

Please bear in mind, that strict CoVid-precautions are enforced, therefore
- bring and wear a FFP2-mask,
- provide a proof that you are tested, recovered or vaccinated (3-G rule) and
- register beforehand:
To register for the live event, please send an email to martin.mandl@univie.ac.at with your full name and telephone number.

Please visit these links for university's special and general information regarding the current restrictions.

| Plattform & Link |

... and STREAMED online (no registration required)
https://univienna.zoom.us/j/94612979128?pwd=WnMvWnBLWmdJOEltbXN4c2VHZU9Edz09
Meeting-ID: 946 1297 9128 | PW: 585630

Instructions and Netiquette (in English and German)
How to join a lecture via Zoom Meeting (in English)
Frequently Asked Questions (in English)

| Further Questions? |

Please contact martin.mandl@univie.ac.at.