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.

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

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

Plus ça change

Posted on April 22, 2025 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” = The more things change, the more they stay the same. I feel like I experience perpetual déjà vu (yes, this is turning into a French post) in discussing … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitution, Democracy, Governance, Government, Politics, Reflection | Tagged Julian Dierkes | 7 Comments

Guest Post: The Centre for Law and Democracy’s Analysis of the Draft Law on Freedom of the Media

Posted on April 1, 2025 by JDierkes

By Toby Mendel Background Mongolia adopted its Law on Media Freedom in 1998 (1998 Media Law) as a statement of its commitment to media freedom. The 1998 Media Law, however, has only four short articles which set out the following … Continue reading →

Posted in Media and Press, Toby Mendel | Leave a comment

Guest Post: Noorog.mn, Youth Media Staff Detained for Unclear Charges

Posted on March 20, 2025 by JDierkes

By Dulamkhorloo Baatar and Unumunkh Jargalsaikhan You may remember me from my previous two-part blog post about the proposed Press Freedom bill (Draft Bill | Analysis and Outlook). This time, I am addressing you with a yet gloomier picture on … Continue reading →

Posted in Dulamkhorloo Baatar, Media and Press, Unumunkh Jargalsaikhan, Youth | Leave a comment

Guest Post: More to Know about the Proposed Press Freedom Bill – Analysis and Outlook

Posted on March 11, 2025 by JDierkes

By Dulamkhorloo Baatar I have recently written about the context and content of the proposed new Press Freedom law. Here, I will add some analyses and a sense of the draft’s chance of adoption. Why are we concerned? “The draft … Continue reading →

Posted in Dulamkhorloo Baatar, Media and Press | 2 Comments

Guest Post: What you should know about Mongolia’s proposed Press Freedom bill

Posted on February 25, 2025 by JDierkes

By Dulamkhorloo Baatar After 27 years, Mongolia takes another stab at passing a new Press Freedom Bill. The bill was submitted to Parliament for discussion in late January 2025 and is expected to be discussed as soon as the Parliamentary … Continue reading →

Posted in Dulamkhorloo Baatar, Media and Press | 3 Comments

Road Numbering

Posted on November 17, 2024 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes I do really like my Mongolia countryside drives, whether I am along for the ride as a passenger or driving myself. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julian Dierkes (@jbdierkes) One of … Continue reading →

Posted in Countryside, Curios, Tourism, Transportation | Tagged Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

Khurelsukh at UN General Assembly

Posted on October 21, 2024 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes, Alexander Morrow and Anshika Srivastava In 2021, Pres. U Khurelsukh spoke at the UN General Assembly for the first time as president. He has returned every year since then. Unlike his immediate predecessor, Kh Battulga, he is … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Morrow, Anshika Srivastava, Foreign Policy, International Relations, Mongolia and ..., Peacekeeping, UN | Tagged Julian Dierkes | 2 Comments

Guest Post: Mongolian Hoops Dreams — Creation of Soft Power Through Basketball

Posted on September 17, 2024 by JDierkes

By Benjamin Nuland Basketball was introduced to Mongolia in the 1960s by the Russians and Chinese. More recently, basketball has become Mongolia’s most popular sport, but Mongolians’ associations are primarily American. This fascination lives under the halo of the NBA … Continue reading →

Posted in Benjamin Nuland, Curios, Pop Culture, Sports, United States | Leave a comment

Change in the Countryside June 2024

Posted on September 2, 2024 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 Julian Dierkes | 1 Comment

How Unfortunate: Putin Visits Mongolia

Posted on August 30, 2024 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Once again, geopolitical realities are catching up with Mongolia and there is very little the government of Mongolia can do about it, even if it wanted to. Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin will be visiting Ulaanbaatar to commemorate … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Policy, Mongolia and ..., Russia | Tagged Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment