-
Recent Posts
- Newish Foreign Policy Vibes in Ulaanbaatar
- New to Ulaanbaatar April 2026
- Uchral Cabinet
- Is Mongolia not Backsliding?
- Podcast: The Great State Mural – Mongolia Portrayed
- Mining and Magnetism: The Repulsion Effect
- What Does the Rusal-Rio Case Actually Mean For Mongolia?
- Mongolia Focus in Review 2025
- Guest Post: Parliamentary Oyu Tolgoi Hearings: Key Themes and What We Often Misunderstand About Economic Benefit
-
Categories
-
See all of our content categories on the Categories page.
Canada China Corruption Countryside Curios Democracy Democratic Party Development Elections Foreign Policy Governance Ikh Khural 2012 International Relations JD Democratization Mining Mining Governance Mongolia and ... Mongolian People's Party Oyu Tolgoi Party Politics Policy Politics Presidential 2017 Research on Mongolia Social Issues Social Media Ulaanbaatar
Author Archives: JDierkes
Arbitration Award to Khan Resources
By Julian Dierkes On Mar 2 2015 it was announced that erstwhile Canadian uranium miner Khan Resources was awarded US$100mio in arbitration proceedings administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague (Netherlands). The proceedings were rooted in … Continue reading
Feeling (Politically) Pessimistic for Coming Year
By Julian Dierkes It is Tsagaan Sar, so happy new year to all of Mongolia and to Mongolians! Сар шинэдээ сайхан шинэлээрэй What will the year of the sheep bring? The sheep Gestalt (зурхай) seems to expect a windy Spring and … Continue reading
Posted in Constitution, Democracy, Democratic Party, Economics, Elections, Foreign Investment, Governance, Ikh Khural 2016, Inflation, JD Democratization, JD Mining Governance, Mongolian People's Party, Oyu Tolgoi, Party Politics, Policy, Politics, Populism, Security Apparatus
Tagged Julian Dierkes
2 Comments
Poll Results – Direct and Indirect
By Julian Dierkes PM Saikhanbileg has announced the results of the mega-projects vs austerity SMS poll. This announcement is important because we learn about this particular direct democracy initiative, but also because it included an announcement of proposals to revise … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Foreign Investment, Governance, JD Democratization, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Policy, Politics, Public Opinion
Tagged Julian Dierkes
2 Comments
Digital Democracy: PM Saikhanbileg’s Policy Choice SMS Poll
By Julian Dierkes This week Prime Minister Ch Saikhanbileg has posed a question to Mongolians on television and he is asking them to reply by SMS. There are examples of direct involvement by the electorate in political decisions, of course … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Governance, JD Democratization, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Party Politics, Public Opinion, Social Media, Ulaanbaatar
Tagged Julian Dierkes
9 Comments
Saikhanbileg Cabinet Nominations
After about a month of self-inflicted turmoil, the government of Mongolia is heading for some stability again. With a supercoalition of all parties seemingly in place, PM Saikhanbileg has now nominated the following individuals for cabinet positions: [On Dec 8, … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Party Politics, Politics
Tagged Julian Dierkes, MENDEE Jargalsaikhan
Leave a comment
A Personal Wishlist for the Saikhanbileg Government
By Julian Dierkes As we’re anticipating a cabinet to be formed under PM Saikhabileg and it now seems likely that a grand coalition (DP + MPP) or a super coalition (DP + MPP + Justice Coalition + CWGP) or some … Continue reading
Cabinet Speculation
By Julian Dierkes As it has become clearer over the weekend that the likely constellation for the new Mongolian government under Prime Minister Ch Saikhanbileg will be a super-coalition involving all political parties and thus 73 of the 76 members … Continue reading
Policy Series
Over the past several weeks, discussions in “Little Mongolia” in UBC’s Choi Bldg about Mongolian politics have heated up in parallel with the turmoil the Mongolian government is experiencing. Mendee (UBC Political Science PhD candidate), Damdinnyam Gongor (UBC Mining Engineering … Continue reading
Recent Political Turmoil Homemade
By Julian Dierkes I find it noticeable that the recent political turmoil (I hesitate to call it a crisis as a change of government is an endorsement of democratic institutions in some ways, and the state budget was passed relatively … Continue reading
Posted in Democratic Party, International Relations, Media and Press, Mongolia and ..., Party Politics, Politics
Tagged Julian Dierkes
1 Comment
Saikhanbileg Elected Prime Minister
On the morning of November 21, the Mongolian parliament elected Ch Saikhanbileg as the new prime minister. He was elected by a 42:2 vote which means that 32 members of the State Great Khural were absent for the voting. While … Continue reading
Political Mood Amid Chaos
By Julian Dierkes As always, I was thrilled to have a chance to visit Ulaanbaatar, even if it was for a mere 40 hours. Political Mood: DP Partying Like It’s 1998 Most friends and acquaintances I spoke to are puzzled … Continue reading
Side Notes on Very Brief Visit
By Julian Dierkes On recent visits I have almost always try to note the small differences I see in Ulaanbaatar (see, for example, “New to Ulaanbaatar in 2014“). Here are some very few ones I noticed on this visit: Construction … Continue reading
An Outlook on an Amarjargal or Saikhanbileg-led Government
By Julian Dierkes The signs at the moment suggest that Saikhanbileg will end up as the next prime minister of Mongolia. Given his past association with Pres. Elbegdorj, it would seem like his nomination to parliament should go through. That … Continue reading
Another Nomination for Prime Minister: Ch Saikhanbileg
And for another twist… After the DP caucus in the State Great Khural had nominated R Amarjargal, the party itself now seems to have given the nod to Ch Saikhanbileg. Of course, his election to the prime ministership still requires … Continue reading
Nominated for Prime Minister: R Amarjargal
On November 12 the State Great Khural Democratic Party caucus selected a candidate for prime minister, Rinchinnyam Amarjargal. This vote came a mere week after former Prime Minister N Altankhuyag lost a vote of no-confidence on November 5. This does … Continue reading