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.

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

Posted on March 29, 2016 by JDierkes

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”

Posted on March 25, 2016 by JDierkes

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

Posted on March 22, 2016 by JDierkes

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

Posted on March 21, 2016 by JDierkes

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

Posted on March 14, 2016 by JDierkes

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

Posted on February 4, 2016 by JDierkes

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

Posted on January 20, 2016 by JDierkes

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

Bloggin’ 2015

Posted on January 1, 2016 by JDierkes

Happy new year! This has been the fifth year of our blogging (we started in July 2011). Most of the writing has passed to Mendee and I, though Byamba and Brandon have continued to chip in. We’ve managed to post … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Media | Tagged | 1 Comment

New to Ulaanbaatar in late 2015

Posted on December 21, 2015 by JDierkes

I’ve been keeping a list of things that are arriving to/disappearing from central Ulaanbaatar: May 2015 | May 2014 | October 2013. I’ve copied the 2014 and 2015 lists here and am adding to it. New items since previous posts appear in italics. What has … Continue reading →

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

Learning about Development Policy in Uvs Aimag

Posted on December 15, 2015 by JDierkes

I just visited Uvs province in Western Mongolia for the first time and had the chance to meet with stakeholder representatives from government, civil society, small businesses, and the corporate sector to learn about their development policy. Fascinating 1st visit … Continue reading →

Posted in CIRDI, Civil Society, Countryside, Development, Mining, Policy, Policy, Regulation, Social Issues, Social Movements, Water | Tagged | 2 Comments

Contract transparency in Mongolian Mining

Posted on December 11, 2015 by JDierkes

 Unbundling contract transparency in the extractive industry: the case of Mongolia – Part I Contract transparency is crucial in ensuring deals in the extractive industry deliver better outcomes for the host nation and community. Civil society has long campaigned for … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, International Agreements, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Social Movements | Tagged | 3 Comments

Methodology as a Methodology

Posted on December 10, 2015 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes As exhausting as all-day meetings with stakeholders can be (with a bit of jetlag, multiple languages and instant coffee thrown into the mix), I am always fascinated by how individuals present themselves, what they are looking for, … Continue reading →

Posted in CIRDI, Countryside, Curios, Social Issues, Society and Culture | Tagged | Leave a comment

Guest Post: Mongolia 2016 – Will there be light at the end of the tunnel?

Posted on December 8, 2015 by JDierkes

By Stefan Hanselmann If the development of the last quarter of 2015 can serve as an indicator, we can eventually expect for next year some real light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, Mongolia had to learn the hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Bilateral Aid, Business, Development, Diversification, Economics, Foreign Investment, Ikh Khural 2016, Inflation, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Policy, Politics, Stefan Hanselmann | Leave a comment

UN Human Rights Council

Posted on November 19, 2015 by JDierkes

I recently wrote about President Elbegdorj’s address to the UN General Assembly this September and his statement that he is seeking UN recognition for Mongolia’s status as “permanently neutral”. Elbegdorj ended this speech with a call for support from other … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, International Relations, Mongolia and ..., UN | Tagged | Leave a comment

Thoughts on Constitutional Reform

Posted on November 11, 2015 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes I am not a constitutional scholar. My observations on the constitutional reform proposals that are being considered by the Mongolian parliament are thus based on my understanding of Mongolian politics on the one hand, and my experience of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aimags, Constitution, Democracy, Foreign Policy, Governance, JD Democratization, Politics | Tagged | 3 Comments