Category Archives: Politics

M vs Genco

Posted on May 4, 2017 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes The MPP has selected its chairman, Enkhbold M, to be nominated as candidate in the June 26 presidential election. The DP appears to have selected Battulga Kh., pending a party congress. One question remains: Will Enkhbayar N … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Democracy, Democratic Party, Elections, Foreign Policy, International Relations, JD Democratization, Mongolia and ..., Mongolian People's Party, Party Politics, Politics, Populism, Presidential 2017, Public Policy | Tagged | 4 Comments

Guest Post: Erdenet Update 100%, Again Contested

Posted on April 13, 2017 by JDierkes

By Marissa Smith At the close of the fall session of the Ikh Khural, Mongolia’s Parliament, the body voted to invalidate the sale of the 49% shares of Erdenet carried out in summer 2016, which transferred the ownership of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Erdenet, Marissa Smith, Mining, Mining Governance, Policy, Politics | 3 Comments

Anti-Chinese Attitudes in Mongolia through Generational Imprinting

Posted on March 9, 2017 by mendee

By Mendee Jargalsaikhan A few years back, Julian introduced me the concept of generational imprints and pointed out the work of Karl Mannheim.  Mannheim (Essays on the Sociology of Knowledge. Routledge: 1952) defined a generation as a social creation and argued that … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Nationalism, Politics, Social Issues | Tagged | 1 Comment

PS: Constitutional Reform & Double Deel

Posted on March 9, 2017 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Constitutional revision remains under consideration in Mongolia. If the MPP wins the presidential election in June 2017, there may be less pressure toward a revision of the relative power of president and parliament (most recent discussions in … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitution, Democracy, Germany, Governance | Tagged | 4 Comments

International Relations in the Trump Era

Posted on January 19, 2017 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes As someone who thinks and writes about political risk regarding Mongolia, my focus is on domestic politics more than on international relations. Yet, with Donald Trump becoming U.S.-president, I have to add a fairly random element to … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Foreign Policy, International Relations, Mongolia and ..., Nationalism, North Korea, Presidential 2017, Russia, UN, United States | Tagged | 2 Comments

More on Re-Forming the DP

Posted on December 1, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes I recently started thinking about the future of the DP within Mongolian democracy. In that first post, I wrote about DP party unity and a rejuvenation of DP leaders. I want to continue that consideration here, particularly … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Democracy, Democratic Party, Ikh Khural 2016, JD Democratization, Politics, Presidential 2017, Public Policy, Public Service | Tagged | Leave a comment

Early Presidential Election Speculation

Posted on November 18, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Nearly half a year after the parliamentary election, some discussions are turning to the presidential election in late June 2017. One of the aspects that will make this election interesting is that incumbent Pres. Elbegdorj has served … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Party, Elections, Mongolian People's Party, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Politics, Presidential 2017 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Speculation Surrounding Erdenet Sale

Posted on October 7, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes A Massive Privatization Coup Right Before an Election? It seemed odd that there was an announcement just before the June 29 election that the 49% portion of the longtime engine of Mongolian development, Erdenet mine, that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Erdenet, Ikh Khural 2016, Mining, Mining Governance, Policy | Tagged | 7 Comments

Let’s Imagine a Rosy MPP Future

Posted on September 25, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Just a quick reminder that I don’t dabble in Mongolian (party) politics, I just try to analyze political development, including parties and elections. In these analyses I try to stay as neutral and detached as I can. … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Ikh Khural 2016, Inequality, JD Democratization, Mongolian People's Party, Party Politics, Policy, Politics, Public Policy, Public Service, Younger Mongolians | Tagged | 2 Comments

Election Impressions Germany vs Mongolia

Posted on September 18, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes I was an international election observer in 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to travel to Mongolia for the most recent election. But, I’ve never observed any aspects of elections in my home country, … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Elections, Germany, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Future of the DP?

Posted on September 12, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes A crushing defeat like the one that the DP suffered on June 29 should lead to some party-soul searching. More than two months after the election, I can only imagine that questions about the future of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Party, Foreign Policy, Ikh Khural 2016, Inequality, JD Democratization, Party Politics, Policy, Politics, Presidential 2017, Public Policy, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | Leave a comment

Erdenebat Cabinet

Posted on August 2, 2016 by JDierkes

By Bulgan B & Julian Dierkes Contrary to usual practice to wait to form a new government after a June election until September, the newly-elected Mongolian parliament met in July already to elect a Prime Minister and a cabinet. Given … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Ikh Khural 2016, Mongolian People's Party, Politics, Public Policy, Public Service | Tagged | 1 Comment

Did (Any of) My Saikhanbileg Wishes Come True?

Posted on July 20, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes In December 2014 when the first Saikhanbileg cabinet had been formed, I wrote a personal wishlist of actions I was hoping that cabinet might take. J Erdenebat was the finance minister in that cabinet. All the more … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Democracy, Democratic Party, Education, Foreign Policy, Ikh Khural 2016, Mining, Party Politics, Policy, Policy, Politics, Public Policy, Public Service | Tagged | Leave a comment

Cabinet Appointment: Dumbledorj for Foreign Minister

Posted on July 6, 2016 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes Things are moving very fast with the new MPP government, it seems like now is the time to make my pitch for a cabinet appointment… Beware of a feeble attempt at humour… This is the newsflash I’m hoping … Continue reading →

Posted in Curios, Ikh Khural 2016 | Tagged | 1 Comment

Guest Post: Questions about Purchase of Erdenet Mining

Posted on July 4, 2016 by JDierkes

Note: I am unable to corroborate what Lkhagva is reporting here, but a) I know him to be a committed investigative journalist, and b) this is a potentially important story given the significance of the Erdenet mine to Mongolia, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Erdenet, Ikh Khural 2016, Lkhagva Erdene, Mining, Mining Governance, Russia | Tagged | Leave a comment