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.

Election Day

Posted on June 22, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes The spectre of the July 1 2008 riots still loom over Mongolian elections. While full explanations never really emerged, it seems that those riots were a combination of some orchestration of protests, the latent potential for protests in … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Ikh Khural 2016, JD Democratization, Protest, Security Apparatus | Tagged | Leave a comment

Halfway through Сонгууль 2016 Campaign

Posted on June 20, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes The election campaign for the State Great Khural election on June 29 is over halfway through its official 18-day period. While it has been an active campaign for the 498 candidates, and visibly so, it has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Party, Ikh Khural 2016, Mongolian People's Party, Party Politics, Social Media | Tagged | 2 Comments

Civil Society Perspective on State’s Role in Large Resource Projects

Posted on June 19, 2016 by JDierkes

By Bilguun N ICF Workshop “State’s Role in Large Resource Projects” – Perspectives of Civil Society When Ts Munkhbayar, was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, he was interviewed by Anthropologist Bumochir Dulam. He explained a truthful reason to come to the parliament house with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bilguun Nandinbilig, CIRDI, Governance, Mining, Social Movements | Leave a comment

Interesting Constellations of Candidates

Posted on June 17, 2016 by JDierkes

There are always some interesting individuals, opposing races, and categories of candidates to be found among a number of candidates as large as 498 in this election. Wrestlers Bat-Erdene B (incumbent, MPP, Khentii, 40) Sumiyabazar D (incumbent, MPP, Songinokhairkhan 73) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ikh Khural 2016 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Small, Unanticipated Impacts

Posted on June 16, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes [With some notes from CIRDI program manager, Marie-Luise Ermisch, PhD] One of the challenges on attempting to apply my understanding of contemporary Mongolia through development interventions has been that it is forcing me to learn a number … Continue reading →

Posted in CIRDI, Development, International Cooperation Fund, Mongolia and ... | Tagged | Leave a comment

Guest Post: State Participation in Resources Projects

Posted on June 15, 2016 by JDierkes

By Unurjargal U The State’s Role in Large Resource Projects The appropriate forms for state participation in mining sector – a sensitive issue in Mongolia. The Canadian International Mineral Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI) organized a cooperation conference with the … Continue reading →

Posted in CIRDI, Mining, Mining Governance, Policy, Unurjargal Urjin | Leave a comment

Notes on Parliamentary Election Candidates & Races

Posted on June 10, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes The official campaign for the June 29 parliamentary election kicked off on June 11. The General Election Commission published the official list of candidates on June 7. I’ve been trying to sort through this list to take note … Continue reading →

Posted in Countryside, Ikh Khural 2016, Party Politics, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | 3 Comments

Guest Post: ICF Workshop – Private Sector Perspective

Posted on June 7, 2016 by JDierkes

By Aligermaa B Does the state, responsible for national welfare, have any business getting actively involved in a business, even in one related to essential services or strategic national resources? Or, should everything be left to the private sector which, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aligermaa Bayarsaikhan, Business, CIRDI, EITI, International Cooperation Fund, Mining, Mining Governance | 2 Comments

Transparency and My Independence

Posted on June 3, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Mongolian Since around 2014, I have increasingly been asked why I am interested in Mongolia. As my interest is academic and curiosity-driven, I thought it best to offer a discussion of my independence in providing analyses of contemporary Mongolia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Research on Mongolia | Tagged | 4 Comments

Democracy in Decline?

Posted on June 2, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Dear Democracy, May you rest in peace. Sincerely, Mongolia. — Lkhagva Erdene (@Lkhagva) May 28, 2016 Is it time to worry seriously about the state of democracy in Mongolia? Mongolian Democracy in International Context Globally, democracy appears … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Elections, Governance, Ikh Khural 2016, JD Democratization, Media and Press, Party Politics, Politics, Security Apparatus | Tagged | 3 Comments

Судлаачын хараат бус байдал

Posted on May 30, 2016 by JDierkes

Монголыг яагаад сонирхож эхлэх болсон талаар 2014 оны үеээс хүмүүс надаас илүүтэйгээр асуух боллоо. Миний хувьд эрдэм шинжилгээ болон  өөрийн-сонирхолдоо хөтлөгдөж, орчин үеийн Монголын болон ялангуяа ирж буй 2016 оны сонгуулийн дүн шинжилгээнүүдийг хараат бусаар хийдэг гэдгээ тайлбарлах нь зөв … Continue reading →

Posted in Research on Mongolia | Tagged | 3 Comments

Institutionalized Role for State in Emerging Resource Economies

Posted on May 25, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes The workshop on “The State’s Role in Large Resource Projects” CIRDI recently co-organized with the International Cooperation Fund of the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was designed as an opportunity for Mongolians to share their experience in … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Canada, CIRDI, International Cooperation Fund, JD Mining Governance, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Mining Governance, Mongolia and ..., Myanmar | Tagged | Leave a comment

New to Ulaanbaatar in May 2016

Posted on May 24, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes I’ve been keeping a list of things that are arriving to/disappearing from central Ulaanbaatar: December 2015 |  May 2015 | May 2014 | October 2013. I’ve copied the 2014 and 2015 lists here and am adding to it. New items … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Curios, Social Change, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | Leave a comment

ICF Workshop “State’s Role in Large Resource Projects”

Posted on May 17, 2016 by JDierkes

Co-organized and co-hosted by International Cooperation Fund Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of Mongolia Canadian International Resources and Development Institute Int’l Cooperation Fund(ICF) & @CIIEID_ICIIED co-organize workshop on “The State’s Role in Large Resource Projects”. pic.twitter.com/0nasxUohSb — MFA Mongolia (@MFA_Mongolia) … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, CIRDI, Erdenet, Governance, International Cooperation Fund, Mining, Mining Governance | Leave a comment

Information about CIRDI’s Mongolia Project

Posted on May 16, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes iPolitics’ James Munson recently published an article that is critical of the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI) in a number of important aspects: project selection, information about projects, and broader issues about Canadian development assistance, … Continue reading →

Posted in CIRDI, Development, JD Mining Governance | Tagged | Leave a comment