Author Archives: JDierkes

About JDierkes

Research on Mongolia for over 20 years, particular focus on mining policy and democratization. Princeton-trained sociologist. Dean, School of Social Sciences, Univ of Mannheim.

Khurelsukh and Pax Mongolica at the UN

Posted on September 26, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Pres. Khurelsukh’s speeches at the UN General Assembly have caught my eyes in recent years, in part because the UN has been the site of an at least symbolic battle between Russian President V Putin and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Landlocked Developing Countries, Mongolia and ..., Peacekeeping, UN | Leave a comment

Origins of Wooden Fences

Posted on August 25, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Sometimes first-time visitors to Mongolia ask questions that I have also been asking myself, so leave me stumped and wondering. One of these questions is the origin of the khashaa (Хашаа), or fence that demarcates a family’s property … Continue reading →

Posted in Countryside, Curios, Dissertation Ideas, Settlements, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | 7 Comments

Guest Post: Back in Mongolia: Buzz, Ambition, and a Bold Vision at MEF 2025

Posted on July 21, 2025 by JDierkes

By Zolzaya Jargalsaikhan After two years abroad, my family and I have safely returned to Mongolia — just in time for the Mongolia Economic Forum (MEF) 2025. The energy was palpable — not only from reconnecting with family and friends, … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economics, Policy, Sovereign Wealth Fund, Zolzaya Jargalsaikhan | Leave a comment

Guest Post: Visit to Mongolia by Japanese Emperor and Empress and Public Response in Japan

Posted on July 18, 2025 by JDierkes

By Kunio Minato The first imperial visit to Mongolia by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako was undoubtedly a landmark event in Japan–Mongolia relations. The Japanese media covered the imperial couple’s words and deeds every day in newspapers, on TV and … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Japan, Mongolia and ... | Leave a comment

Guest Post: “Mongolian tie demokratiaan” Photo Exhibition in Helsinki

Posted on July 16, 2025 by JDierkes

By Mend-Amar Baigalmaa The photo and poster exhibition “Mongolian Tie to Democracy” by Finnish journalist and photographer Irja Halász opened on May 31, 2025, at the Sofia Cultural Centre Gallery in Helsinki, Finland.   Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Democracy, History, Mend-Amar Baigalmaa | 3 Comments

Acting Powerful

Posted on July 1, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes I recently engaged in some political dreaming with very good Mongolian friends. The prompt was, “If you were Grand Khaan/Prime Minister, what would be some changes you would make right away?”. We quickly abanonded the Grand Khaan … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Politics, Security Apparatus | Tagged | Leave a comment

Zandanshatar Cabinet

Posted on June 17, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes and Marissa J. Smith As we have done for cabinets since 2016 (Erdenebat 2016 | Khurelsukh 2017 | Khurelsukh 2020 | Oyun-Erdene 2021 | Oyun-Erdene 2022 | Oyun-Erdene 2023 | Oyun-Erdene 2024), we’re listing cabinet members below … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Mongolian People's Party, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

PM Zandanshatar

Posted on June 12, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes So, Mongolia has a new prime minister. Parliament elected G Zandanshatar in the early hours of June 13. Initial reporting indicated that only 108 members were present, but it seems to have turned out that 108 members … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Mongolian People's Party, Politics | Tagged | 4 Comments

End of the Oyun-Erdene Era?

Posted on June 3, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Of course, the one time, my frustration at endless speculation about political machinations and alliances actually gets to me, something happens, namely Prime Minister L Oyun-Erdene’s era appears to be ending. In the early morning of June … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Party, Ikh Khural 2024, KhUN, Mongolian People's Party, Party Politics, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Government Confusion

Posted on May 30, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes A bit of confusion in Mongolia at the moment regarding the state of the coalition government and the fate of L Oyun-Erdene as prime minister. Last week, it was reported that a) the DP had been removed … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Party, Government, Media and Press, Mongolian People's Party, Party Politics, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Change in the Countryside 2025

Posted on May 27, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes For some years, I have now traced visible changes in Ulaanbaatar on my periodic visits. I’ve kept a similar list for countryside changes, somewhat less regular as extended visits to the countryside don’t come nearly often enough … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Countryside, Curios | Tagged | 1 Comment

Assessing Academic Freedom Index Score

Posted on May 20, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes I recently posted my description of what the Academic Freedom Index measures and how Mongolia has been scored. Is Mongolia’s decline on Academic Freedom Index real? Or, what is this decline measuring? How are we to understand … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Global Indices, Higher Education, JD Democratization, Research on Mongolia, Social Change | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mongolia Focus WhatsApp Channel

Posted on May 14, 2025 by JDierkes

Yes, it’s the Meta Imperium, but we’ve created a Mongolia Focus WhatsApp channel. Follow the channel to receive notifications of new posts published here. For other ways to follow, see our Following page.

Posted in Reflection | Leave a comment

Guest Post: May Day by Natsagdorj

Posted on May 5, 2025 by JDierkes

By Khishigtugs Amarbayasgalan Natsagdorj Dashdorj (1906–1937) is widely regarded as the founder of modern Mongolian literature. Natsagdorj was part of the first generation of Mongolian students sent abroad after the revolution (1921 revolution in Mongolia), and among the earliest to … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany, History, Khishigtugs Amarbayasgalan, Literature, Reflection | 3 Comments

New to Ulaanbaatar April 2025

Posted on April 29, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes I’ve been keeping lists of things that are arriving to/disappearing from central Ulaanbaatar: June-July 2024 | August 2023 | May 2023 | November 2022 | August 2022 | December 2019 | June 2019 | April 2019 | December 2018 | August 2018 | October 2017 | June … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Curios, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | 3 Comments