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.

Subscores: Freedom in the World Report

When the 2014 Freedom in the World report was released on January 23, it came with the following map: At the time I tweeted, “That dot of hopeful green in a see of authoritarian purple is #Mongolia #FIW“. I also … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Democracy, Elections, Governance, Party Politics, Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

In Defence of Twitter Diplomacy

On January 6, David Carment (Carleton Univ, @cdnfp) wrote a comment piece for The Embassy (a Canadian weekly and on-line paper focused on Canada’s international relations) that made a case for “Why Twitter Diplomacy Won’t Lead to Better Foreign Policy“. As I’ve … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Foreign Policy, Social Media | Tagged | Leave a comment

Symposium: Mongolian Responses to Globalization

Department for Mongolian and Tibetan Studies Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn January 15-17, 2014 Organizer: Ines Stolpe The event is designed as a workshop in order to foster lively discussions on issues and topics concerning contemporary Mongolia – including their historical backgrounds. Our primary goal is … Continue reading

Posted in Conferences, Research on Mongolia | Leave a comment

My Sources on Developments in Mongolia

I am sometimes asked how I keep up with developments in Mongolia from afar. I take that question as a compliment on the quality of the analysis we provide. Social Media Twitter has become an invaluable tool for keeping up … Continue reading

Posted in Media and Press, Research on Mongolia, Social Media | Tagged | Leave a comment

Subscribing to Mongolia Focus Updates

We’ve posted over 250 updates to this blog in the past 2 1/2 years. Any volunteers out there to edit a compilation? 😉 You’ve asked frequently about notifications for new posts recently. All along, I’ve tweeted about new posts @jdierkes and … Continue reading

Posted in Research on Mongolia, Social Media | Tagged | Leave a comment

Results from the Corruption Perception Index 2013

On Dec 3, Transparency International released its annual Corruption Perception Index. Previous Posts Last year, I wrote two blog posts that specifically focused on the CPI score for Mongolia: https://mongoliafocus.com/2012/corruption-transparency-international/ https://mongoliafocus.com/2012/more-on-corruption-in-mongolia-according-to-transparency-international-further-comparisons/ Last weekend, I wrote a post that looked ahead … Continue reading

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Corruption in 2013

The imminent release of Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (Dec 3) is as good an occasion to think/write about corruption in Mongolia as any. Of course, it is especially important in the context of the CPI to emphasize that this … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Governance, Media and Press, Politics, Public Service, Social Issues | Tagged | 1 Comment

Mongolia – Myanmar Comparison

We are currently enjoying a visit by Dr. Aung Tun Thet to our Institute of Asian Research. Dr. Thet has worked in the UN system for a long time and is now centrally involved in policy-making in Myanmar as the … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Foreign Investment, Mongolia and ..., Myanmar | Tagged | 2 Comments

Guest Post: Mongolia in the OSCE – One Year On

Paul Bryce Further Expansion of the OSCE In the years immediately following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the membership of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) appeared to have expanded as … Continue reading

Posted in International Relations, Mongolia and ... | Leave a comment

November 22 Event in Vancouver: Canada-Mongolia Relations

Program on Inner Asia Institute of Asian Research UBC Friday, November 22, 2013 17:30-19h UBC Robson Square, Room C400 On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Canada-Mongolia Diplomatic Relations Canada-Mongolia Relations and Mongolian Foreign Policy Introduction Tobin ROBBINS Honorary … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Events, Mongolia and ..., Research on Mongolia, UBC Mongolia Lecture Series | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Political Theatre of a State Visit to Mongolia

October 25 was the first day of a two-day State Visit by Canadian Governor General David Johnston to Mongolia. Ahead of the visit, I offered some background. For me, this was the first state visit by anyone anywhere that I … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Education, Foreign Policy, Governor General's Visit 2013 | Tagged | 3 Comments

Visible Manifestations of Social Change in Ulaanbaatar

By Julian Dierkes It seems to me that social change has accelerated in Mongolia, or at least in Ulaanbaatar, or at least in central Ulaanbaatar in the past two years. I’ve had the food fortune to have visited Mongolia three … Continue reading

Posted in Change, Curios, Social Change, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | 2 Comments

My Governor General’s Medallion

It is a bit embarrassing to toot my own horn in this way, but the Rt Hon David Johnston awarded me a Governor General’s Medallion at the Friends of Canada reception on Oct 26 2013. During the award, the following … Continue reading

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Governor General’s Speech to the Mongolian Parliament

Clearly, a parliament, a democratically-elected parliament no less, deserves much respect as an institution and in its proceedings. How appropriate then, that a visiting Governor General would address the Mongolian parliament. As I was not a part of the official … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Governor General's Visit 2013 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Results of Canadian State Visit to Mongolia

Obviously, state visits have symbolic purposes and motivations, but they are also the occasion for announcements in a bilateral relationship. I tried to guess at what the intentions for the state visit to Mongolia by Governor General David Johnston were … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Foreign Policy, Governor General's Visit 2013 | Tagged | 2 Comments