-
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
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 Julian Dierkes
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
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
Posted in Canada, Curios, Governor General's Visit 2013, Research on Mongolia
Tagged Julian Dierkes
Leave a comment
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
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
Canadian State Visit
2013 marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Mongolia. Earlier this year, this anniversary was marked by a visit of the chairman of the Ikh Khural, Z Enkhbold, to Canada. Now, it has been announced that the Canadian … Continue reading
If not an SWF then what?
At the recent World Economic Forum’s “Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Mongolia” I heard a lot of talk about the need for the Mongolian government to shed its direct involvement in the economy, but also the recommendation to rely … Continue reading
Solutions to the Current Economic Crisis?
Previously, I have written about economic and political aspects of the challenges currently facing Mongolia. Right now, the economic situation seems a bit like a “wicked problem” or a quagmire, and I see relatively little cause for short-term optimism, but … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Development, Economics, Foreign Investment, Governance, Inflation, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Policy, Politics
Tagged Julian Dierkes
2 Comments
Summer 2014 History Events with Mongolia Focus
A 5-week faculty summer institute on “The Mongols and the Eurasian Nexus of Global History” and a conference on “Changing Patterns of Power in Historical and Modern Central and Inner Asia” have been announced recently. While these include a focus … Continue reading
Posted in Conferences, History, Inner Asia, Research on Mongolia, Teaching in Mongolian Studies
Tagged Julian Dierkes
Leave a comment
Study in Canada Education Fair, Oct 27-29, Ulaanbaatar
The Canadian embassy in Ulaanbaatar is hosting its first Canadian Education Fair later this month. Over 20 education institutions from Canada will be represented at the fair, reflecting a commitment to education as a key to success and prosperity of … Continue reading
Politics During the Current Economic Crisis
There is no political crisis in the sense of any conflict within parliament or between parliament and the president. Nor are there major scandals at the moment. However, there does appear to be a crisis in the sense of the … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Development, Economics, Foreign Investment, Governance, Inflation, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Party Politics, Policy, Politics
Tagged Julian Dierkes
Leave a comment
Anatomy of the Current Economic Crisis
Having spent last week in Ulaanbaatar, it is clear to me that the current crisis is a) more severe than I had thought, and b) more real/less perceived than I had thought. Below, I try to list elements in this … Continue reading
Posted in Business, China, Corruption, Development, Economics, Foreign Investment, Governance, Inflation, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Policy, Politics
Tagged Julian Dierkes
3 Comments
Moving with the Seasons: A Photography book on Mongolian Nomads
Liza F. Carter traveled five times to Mongolia over four years to document the daily life of a modern nomadic family and to photograph a way of life that is fast disappearing. Moving with the Seasons: Portrait of a Mongolian Family is a stunning book … Continue reading
Posted in Countryside, Nomadism
Leave a comment
ACMS Scholar’s Corner Sept 19 2013
Last night I was very pleased to join the American Center for Mongolian Studies “Scholar’s Corner” at the Blue Sky Hotel. The events are intended as an informal way for scholars and others interested in research on Mongolia to gather … Continue reading
Let’s Call them Sumo Bonds
In a great conversation with a fellow long-time Mongolia watcher, we were contemplating what to call a ¥-denominated Mongolian bond. This follows Prime Minister Altankhuyag’s trip to Japan last week. It appears that a ¥-denominated Mongolian bond with a volume … Continue reading