Martin Mandl

Martin Mandl is an external lecturer at the Department of East Asian Studies within the Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies at the University of Vienna. He teaches courses on East Asian political systems and international relations, including the interactive negotiation simulation "Strategic Gaming" focusing on current conflicts like the South China Sea dispute.

His educational background includes an MA in East Asian Economy and Society (2016) and a BA in Modern China Studies (2019) from the University of Vienna, and a BA in International Business Studies (2008) from FH KufsteinTirol, Austria. His studies included exchanges at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (China) and National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan).

Mandl's research centers on East Asian culinary cultures, examining food's role in constructing national/regional identities and as a tool for gastrodiplomacy. His recent work analyzes Taiwan's "Gastro-diplomacy" through bubble tea and street food, positioning culinary culture as soft power. He also investigates geopolitical dynamics including East Asian reactions to Russia's war in Ukraine and China-Europe academic engagement.

His 2022-2023 publications reveal a concentrated focus on Austria's strategic positioning in East Asian relations, blending economic diplomacy with cultural analysis. Key themes include the weaponization of culinary identity in international relations, the impact of geopolitical conflicts on regional cooperation, and the evolving nature of academic partnerships under political pressure.

Mandl's recognition includes:

• EATS 2021 Conference Best Presentation Award
• Eurasia-Pacific Uninet Projekt Calls 10/2019 Fellowship for "Workshop China's Belt and Road Initiative"
• OeAD Scholarship for Visiting Researchers at Taiwanese Universities (2019)

His research is supported through collaborations with the Central European Institute of East Asian Studies (CEIAS), where he authored reports on China-Europe academic engagement and East Asian responses to the Ukraine war. Media engagements include expert commentary for Austrian outlets on Taiwan's gastrodiplomacy and political dimensions of food culture.

Mandl maintains active academic networks through editorial roles (formerly technical editor of the "Vienna Journal of East Asian Studies" and editorial member of "ASIEN") and co-teaches strategic gaming simulations with Alfred Gerstl, creating experiential learning environments for analyzing East Asian conflicts.