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.

With Changes to Electoral System, What Outlook for Mongolian Democracy?

By Julian Dierkes As parliament has accepted the high court rejection of proportional representation, some options remained, particular a postponing of the election or a reversion to the 2008 block-voting system. It now seems that a return to the 2004 … Continue reading

Posted in Constitution, Democracy, Elections, Governance, Ikh Khural 2016, Party Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mongolia in the Panama Papers

By Julian Dierkes Since the #PanamaPapers scandal broke there has been speculation about any Mongolian entanglements in the dealings of the Mossack Fonseca law firm. With the release of further information on May 9, that speculation has been fed by some … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Law, Media and Press, Social Issues | Tagged | 2 Comments

National Survey of Mongolian Public Opinion

By Bulgan B and Julian Dierkes Just three weeks after Santmaral’s PolitBarometer came out, we have another indicator of Mongolian public opinion, courtesy of IRI with funding from the Canadian government, the “National Survey of Mongolian Public Opinion”. (Full Results … Continue reading

Posted in Aimags, Countryside, Democracy, Democratic Party, Ikh Khural 2016, Media and Press, Mining Governance, Party Politics, Public Opinion, Research on Mongolia, Security Apparatus, Social Issues | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Julian Dierkes: Яагаад Монголыг сонирхдог болов?

[See the English version as well. Thanks to Mendee for translation, and Bulgan for edits.] Зарим үед хүмүүс надад Монголын тухай энгийн асуулт тавьж алддаг. Учир би нэг яриад эхлэвэл сэтгэл маань хөөрөөд, намайг зогсооход ч төвөгтэй болно. Яагаад ингэдэг … Continue reading

Posted in Research on Mongolia | Tagged | 1 Comment

Where did my Interest in Mongolia Come from?

By Julian Dierkes Sometimes people make the mistake to ask me a seemingly straight-forward question about Mongolia. Well, once I get talking, I get pretty excited and it’ll be hard to stop me. So, why is that? Why am I … Continue reading

Posted in Research on Mongolia | Tagged | 1 Comment

Politbarometer April 2016

By Julian Dierkes With BULGAN B Santmaral Foundation’s Politbarometer (April 2016) remains the “go-to” political poll for Mongolia. This is because a) it is the only credible poll that has been conducted repeatedly, and b) because it is generally credible. … Continue reading

Posted in Bulgan Batdorj, Civil Will Green Party, Democratic Party, Elections, Ikh Khural 2016, Mongolian People's Party, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Party Politics, Politics, Populism | Tagged | 2 Comments

Education about Extractives to Alleviate Poverty

By Julian Dierkes As we continue the “IMAGinE Mongolia” work on drafting a curriculum for providing basic and more advanced knowledge of the extractive sector, there are a number of challenges we’re running into in discussions with colleagues from the … Continue reading

Posted in Aimags, CIRDI, Countryside, Development, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Mining Governance, Policy, Regulation, Water | Tagged | Leave a comment

Resource Nationalism?

By Julian Dierkes One of the dominant foreign views of Mongolian politics is that they’re rife with “resource nationalism”. This perspective is reproduced in many conversations with people in the mining or financial industry and is often repeated by visiting … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign Investment, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Mongolia and ..., Nationalism, Policy, Politics, Populism, Social Movements | Tagged | 4 Comments

Fundraiser for Veloo Foundation’s Children of the Peak Sanctuary Project

Postponed to Later in 2016!!! The Veloo Foundation is hosting a fundraiser in Vancouver on April 23 to benefit its Children of the Peak Sanctuary. Traditional Mongolian music, food and dance will be on offer. For more information see Veloo … Continue reading

Posted in Social Issues | Leave a comment

Berkeley Conference “Deadly Modernity”

By Julian Dierkes The Mongolia Initiative at UC Berkeley’s Institute of East Asian Studies hosted a conference entitled “Deadly Modernity: The Environmental Crisis Behind Mongolia’s Swift Development” March 10-12, 2016. I don’t think anyone was tweeting from the conference, but … Continue reading

Posted in Air Pollution, Conferences, Countryside, Environment, Environment, Environmental Movements, Grassland, Health, Mining, Nationalism, Policy, Politics, Research on Mongolia, River Movements, Social Movements, Water | Tagged | 1 Comment

Training about the Extractives Sector

By Julian Dierkes One of the specific focus areas in CIRDI’s “IMAGinE Mongolia” activities is to draft a training curriculum to provide an introduction and overview, but also specialized training to the public and to officials in four aimags, Selenge, … Continue reading

Posted in CIRDI, Countryside, Development, Education, Environment, Higher Education, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Mining Governance | Tagged | 2 Comments

Digital Diplomacy tied to ASEM

By Julian Dierkes Some weeks ago I wrote about the potential for a Mongolian digital diplomacy. That post generated a lot of interest (over 500 readers in less than 2 months). The tweet about this post was my most-viewed tweet … Continue reading

Posted in Digital Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, International Relations, Mongolia and ..., Social Media | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mongolia Doubleheader March 18 “Rinks of Hope” & Amb. Ed Jager

On March 18, the Program on Inner Asia at UBC will host an afternoon of Mongolia events. Conference Room (Room 120) CK Choi Bldg for the Institute of Asian Research 1855 West Mall 16-17h Film Screening “Rinks of Hope” When … Continue reading

Posted in UBC Mongolia Lecture Series | 2 Comments

UBC Outreach Event: CIRDI’s IMAGinE Mongolia Activities

Thursday, February 4, 2016, 15-16:30h Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia 1855 West Mall, Room 120 Vancouver IMAGinE Mongolia Outreach You are invited to learn about the “Integrated Management and Governance in Extractives (IMAGinE) Mongolia” project from the … Continue reading

Posted in Aimags, Canada, CIRDI, Development, Environment, Governance, Inequality, Mining, Mining Governance, Research on Mongolia | 1 Comment

The Many Habits of Successful Mongolian Digital Diplomats

I wrote “The Way Forward for Canadian Digital Diplomacy” for Canada’s The Embassy on November 18, 2015. I followed this up with a list of more specific about steps that Global Affairs Canada might take in developing Twiplomacy if this direction … Continue reading

Posted in Digital Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, International Relations, Mongolia and ..., Social Media | Tagged | 1 Comment