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.

Trust in Mongolian Youth

By Julian Dierkes I went to Arkhangai with my mother to show her a bit of the Mongolian countryside (and also give me a chance to learn more about the election campaign). We had a wonderful time. On our way … Continue reading

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Importance of Turnout

By Julian Dierkes One of the big questions on election night (June 26) will be whether voters will turn up to vote. In recent presidential elections, the turnout had been steadily declining (2005: 74.9%, 2009 73.5%, 2013 66.5%). That was … Continue reading

Posted in Elections, Politics, Presidential 2017 | Tagged | 3 Comments

Kh Battulga’s Election Platform

Translated by Students in Humboldt University Mongolian Politics Seminar Below we’re offering a translation of Kh Battulga’s presidential campaign platform. We have already posted a translation of S Ganbaatar’s platform. But we’re still recruiting someone to translate MPP/M Enkhbold’s platform. By … Continue reading

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M Enkbold’s Election Platform

Summarized and Translated by Bayanjargalmaa B Below we’re offering a translation of M Enkhbold’s presidential campaign platform. We have already posted a translation of S Ganbaatar’s platform and of Kh Battulga’s platform. By providing an English translation, we want to make information … Continue reading

Posted in Elections, Mongolian People's Party, Politics, Presidential 2017 | 1 Comment

Three-Way Race

By Julian Dierkes Now that we have three confirmed candidates, let’s think about how the campaign and vote might unfold. First, a humble attempt at a joke that emerged from a tweeted discussion about politicians’ nick names: @Iveelt77 @Daimka07 Changing … Continue reading

Posted in Democracy, Democratic Party, Elections, Mongolian People's Party, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Party Politics, Politics, Presidential 2017 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Initial Campaign Impressions

By Julian Dierkes After a first full day of campaigning, here are some very quick, superficial impressions of the presidential election campaign. These are based largely on Twitter and some emailing, as I am about to get on a plane … Continue reading

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New President, New Foreign Policy?

By Julian Dierkes The Mongolian constitution assigns responsibility for international relations to the president. Ts Elbegdorj has been very active in this regard for the past eight years of his two terms as president. With the election campaign getting ready … Continue reading

Posted in China, Foreign Policy, International Relations, Mongolia and ..., North Korea, Presidential 2017, Russia, South Korea, UN, United States | Tagged | 1 Comment

North Korea Turmoil = Mongolian International Relations Role

By Julian Dierkes Some months ago, I speculated about the implications that a changed foreign policy under U.S. Pres. Trump might have for Mongolia. I was certainly right about one aspect: [W]ith Donald Trump becoming U.S.-president, I have to add a … Continue reading

Posted in China, Foreign Policy, Mongolia and ..., North Korea, Ulaanbaatar Dialogue, United States | Tagged | Leave a comment

Regions, Nutag, & Voter Allegiances in the Presidential Election

By Julian Dierkes One of the interesting potential dynamics of the presidential campaign and election will be the regional distribution of votes among the three candidates. The Regional Strengths of Political Affiliation Conventional wisdom holds that the Mongolian People’s Party … Continue reading

Posted in Countryside, Democratic Party, Elections, JD Democratization, Mongolian People's Party, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Party Politics, Politics, Presidential 2017 | Tagged | Leave a comment

What are Voters Looking For?

By Julian Dierkes The campaign for the Mongolian presidency has not entered its hot phase yet but candidates have been confirmed. When Enkhbold M (MPP) and Battulga Kh (DP) were selected, I already reflected on them, another post focused on … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Democracy, Democratic Party, Elections, Mongolian People's Party, Party Politics, Policy, Politics, Presidential 2017, Public Policy | Tagged | Leave a comment

Guest Post: Negative Income Tax I – Redistribution in Expanding Economies

By Ulrich Andree Note: This is the first of three articles. For the extended original article see LinkedIn. The forthcoming posts will focus on (dis)advantages of a negative income tax, and on the implementation of a negative income tax in … Continue reading

Posted in Demography, Development, Economics, Policy, Public Policy, Public Service, Social Change, Social Issues, Taxes, Ullrich Andree | Leave a comment

Guest Post: Negative Income Tax II – Advantages and Disadvantages

By Ulrich Andree Note: This is the second of three articles. For the extended original article see LinkedIn. The previous post focused on redistribution and the concept of an NIT. The final article will focus on the implementation of an NIT … Continue reading

Posted in Demography, Development, Economics, Health, Inequality, Policy, Public Policy, Public Service, Social Change, Social Issues, Taxes, Ullrich Andree | Leave a comment

Guest Post: Negative Income Tax III – Implementation

By Ulrich Andree Note: This is the third of three articles. For the extended original article see LinkedIn. The first post focused on the concept of a negative income tax, the second, on its (dis)advantages. The Implementation of NIT The implementation of NIT … Continue reading

Posted in Countryside, Demography, Development, Inequality, Public Policy, Public Service, Taxes, Ullrich Andree | Leave a comment

M vs Genco

By Julian Dierkes The MPP has selected its chairman, Enkhbold M, to be nominated as candidate in the June 26 presidential election. The DP appears to have selected Battulga Kh., pending a party congress. One question remains: Will Enkhbayar N … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Democracy, Democratic Party, Elections, Foreign Policy, International Relations, JD Democratization, Mongolia and ..., Mongolian People's Party, Party Politics, Politics, Populism, Presidential 2017, Public Policy | Tagged | 4 Comments

Guest Post: Erdenet Update 100%, Again Contested

By Marissa Smith At the close of the fall session of the Ikh Khural, Mongolia’s Parliament, the body voted to invalidate the sale of the 49% shares of Erdenet carried out in summer 2016, which transferred the ownership of the … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Erdenet, Marissa Smith, Mining, Mining Governance, Policy, Politics | 3 Comments