Dr. Helmut Opletal
I am a researcher and regular lecturer with the Institute of East Asian Studies. After my studies in Communications, Political Science and Chinese in Vienna and Beijing, I acquired a “Dr. phil.” degree in 1979 with a thesis on the Information Policy of the People’s Republic of China (“Die Informationspolitik der Volksrepublik China 1966-1976”). From 1980 to 1985, I worked as a China Correspondent for ORF (Austrian Broadcasting) and several German language newspapers in Beijing. Later I continued as an International Affairs Editor with Austrian Radio and TV, specializing on reporting from Asia and on European Affairs (until Dec. 2009).
As early as 1986, I started teaching on Asian politics and societies at Vienna University, first at the Institute of Political Science, then at the Institute of East Asian Studies, as well as at the Vienna Diplomatic Academy and the University of Salzburg. In 2010 I held the post of Visiting Professor (East Asian Studies), 2011-2012 I was curator of an exhibition on “The Culture of the Cultural Revolution” at the ethnology museums of Vienna and Zurich. From 2015 onwards, I have been undertaking a research project on the Chinese Democracy Wall Movement 1978-1981. As a fellow of the Institute of East Asian Studies, I continue teaching, giving public lectures, writing articles and media commentaries, organizing photo exhibitions and participating in discussion panels on China.
Recent research:
(2021) Presentations and photo exhibition “Studying in Beijing – the First Classes after the Cultural Revolution” at the Chinese Studies Department, East Asian Studies. https://photos.app.goo.gl/LE5sgaaDv2PhkS4v5
(2019) Presentations and photo exhibition “Weeks of Hope – Beijing’s Student Movement May 2-31, 1989” at the Chinese Studies Department, East Asian Studies. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Kws7c5kuc763Lks38
(2015-) “Beijing Spring" - Memories of the Chinese Democracy Movement 1978-1981 (interviews with more than thirty main personalities of the Democracy Wall Movement and an extensive compilation of related photos, videos, memories and other texts. The materials have been published on the website pekinger-fruehling.univie.ac.at (or beijing-spring.univie.ac.at) in German, English and Chinese (in co-operation with the Institute of East Asian Studies and funding from the Hochschuljubiläumsstiftung of the City of Vienna). An article researching connections of the Democracy Movement with reformers inside the CCP was published in 2021: https://journals.univie.ac.at/index.php/jeacs/article/download/6561/6579/15915
(2011-2012) Exhibition and catalogue „The Culture of the Cultural Revolution. Personality Cult and Political Design in Mao Zedong's China“ (2011-2012, Museum of Ethnology, Vienna and Ethnographic Museum Zurich, in co-operation with the Universities of Vienna and Zurich).
press.khm.at/fileadmin/content/KHM/Presse/2011/Mao/Mao_PT_engl.pdf
Publications/other activities: