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.

Odd Numbers of Arrows: The Abe-Udval Connection

Posted on June 13, 2013 by JDierkes

When I looked at Udval’s campaign website for the first time, the photo of her holding a bundle of arrows jumped out at me immediately. Yes, she’s wearing a beautiful light-blue deel, but it’s the arrows that caught my attention. … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Literature, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Presidential 2013 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Bat-Erdene Election Platform

Posted on June 12, 2013 by JDierkes

[This post was researched and co-written by Brian White at The Mongolist blog.] Bat-Erdene’s platform begins similarly to Udval’s by describing challenges facing the country. He does not go as far as Udval in labeling them as “dangers,” but the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Environment, Inequality, Judiciary, Mining, Mongolian People's Party, Oyu Tolgoi, Party Politics, Policy, Presidential 2013, Social Media | Tagged | 1 Comment

Presidential Election as Test of DP Dominance

Posted on June 10, 2013 by JDierkes

The upcoming presidential election will be the first occasion for the DP’s claims to stand for clean government to be tested in an election campaign since the party’s predecessor dominated the 1996-2000 parliament. This will be the first election that … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Democracy, Democratic Party, Elections, Governance, JD Democratization, Law, Party Politics, Politics, Presidential 2013, Security Apparatus | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Udval Election Platform

Posted on June 9, 2013 by JDierkes

Speculation about some kind of Udval retreat notwithstanding, based on information contributed by and co-written with Brian White at The Mongolist, we discuss Udval’s election platform here. Broad Goals Similar to the other candidates, Minister of Health N Udval intends … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Corruption, Elections, Foreign Investment, Governance, Judiciary, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Policy, Politics, Presidential 2013, Social Media | Tagged | 1 Comment

Is Udval in it for Real?

Posted on June 6, 2013 by JDierkes

Here are some speculative musings from around the international ger stove… When the MPRP was deciding on whether to run a candidate in the election some weeks ago, there was a fair bit of speculation that this decision was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Party Politics, Politics, Presidential 2013 | Tagged | 2 Comments

Presidential Election Platforms

Posted on June 5, 2013 by JDierkes

[This post was researched and co-written by Brian White at The Mongolist blog.] A cursory examination of the platforms of all three presidential candidates (incumbent Ts Elbegdorj, Member of Parliament B Bat-Erdene, and Minister of Health N Udval) gives the … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Democracy, Democratic Party, Education, Elections, Foreign Policy, Health, Mongolian People's Party, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Party Politics, Policy, Politics, Presidential 2013 | Tagged | 6 Comments

I’m Still Thinking Run-Off…

Posted on June 3, 2013 by JDierkes

Mendee has posted some very good reasons why he thinks a run-off following the June 26 presidential election is unlikely. At least until we see another Sant Maral poll (I’m hoping there will be one more before the June 19 … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Party, Elections, JD Democratization, Mongolian People's Party, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Party Politics, Politics, Presidential 2013 | Tagged | Leave a comment

New Book: Does Everyone Want Democracy? Insights from Mongolia

Posted on May 28, 2013 by JDierkes

Does Everyone Want Democracy? Insights from Mongolia by Paula L.W. Sabloff. Left Coast Press 2013. 266 pp., 282 pp. / 6.00 x 9.00 / Apr, 2013, eBook (978-1-61132-719-9), Hardback (978-1-59874-565-8) Do all people desire democracy? For over a century, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Elections, Governance, Politics, Publications, Research on Mongolia, Society and Culture | Tagged | Leave a comment

Udval Candidacy

Posted on May 21, 2013 by JDierkes

It appears that the MPRP is pressing on with the nomination of Health Minister N Udval for the presidential election. There had been some doubts about the sincerity of the nomination and speculation that the MPRP was merely trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Gender, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Party Politics, Politics, Presidential 2013 | Tagged | 2 Comments

Book Chapter: Democracy and Risk

Posted on May 14, 2013 by JDierkes

Democracy and Risk: Mongolians’ Perspective Paula Sabloff in J. Dierkes, ed. Change in Democratic Mongolia – Social Relations, Health, Mobile Pastoralism, and Mining Leiden: Brill. “Democracy and Risk” uses statistical analysis to suggest correlation between Mongolians’ evaluation of democracy and their concerns … Continue reading →

Posted in Book: Change in Democratic Mongolia, Democracy, Governance, Public Opinion, Research on Mongolia, Social Issues | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Mongolian Presidency

Posted on May 13, 2013 by JDierkes

As three parties in the Ikh Khural have now nominated candidates for the presidential election to be held on June 26 (DP: Ts Elbegdorj; MPP: B Bat-Erdene; MPRP: N Udval), it might be useful to review the role of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Foreign Policy, Governance, JD Democratization, Judiciary, Law, Politics, Presidential 2013, Public Service | Tagged | 3 Comments

Electing a President in Mongolia

Posted on May 10, 2013 by JDierkes

Campaigning Parties cannot spend more than T5bil (approx. C$3.5mil), candidates no more than T3bil. Individuals may donate up to T10mil (approx. C$7,000), corporations up to T50mil. The public broadcaster provides free of charge time slots to candidates for election messages. … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Elections, Governance, Party Politics, Politics, Presidential 2013 | Tagged | 1 Comment

Mongolian Cashmere on Kickstarter

Posted on May 7, 2013 by JDierkes

I recently came across an announcement of the first Mongolia-linked Kickstarter project (at least as far as I’m aware). Kickstarter, of course, is the website that offers entrepreneurs and others an opportunity to crowd-source funding for projects and business ideas. … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Cashmere, Fashion, Nomadism | Tagged | Leave a comment

Deepening Canada-Mongolia Relations

Posted on May 6, 2013 by JDierkes

On April 25, just ahead of the ministerial conference of the Community of Democracies that was attended by Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Minister Deepak Obhrai, I published the following comment in Embassy – Canada’s Foreign Policy Newspaper. How … Continue reading →

Posted in Bilateral Aid, Canada, Democracy, Development, Foreign Policy, Julian Dierkes | Tagged | Leave a comment

PolitBarometer Ahead of Presidential Election

Posted on May 3, 2013 by JDierkes

The Sant Maral Foundation released its PolitBarometer April survey of voters. Going by their strategy ahead of the parliamentary election in 2012, this will be the penultimate survey of public opinion. While polling is underdeveloped in Mongolia and hampered by … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Democratic Party, Elections, Mongolian People's Party, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Party Politics, Politics, Presidential 2013, Public Opinion | Tagged | 2 Comments