Yearly Archives: 2016

Bullied by China over Visit by the Dalai Lama

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes [With thanks to Bulgan B for her help in understanding the interview and subsequent statements.] Late in November, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Mongolia. This was the first visit since 2011. Previous visits occurred in 2006 … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Dalai Lama, Foreign Policy, Religion | Tagged Julian Dierkes | 1 Comment

What if Mongolia Went All-Organic?

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes I recently re-tweeted an ADB tweet about one of their blog posts, “The Foreseeable Future of Mongolia’s Agriculture” So important to note that “#Mongolia’s agriculture […] is organic, less polluted” thus huge, high-value potential in East Asia.#yummy … Continue reading →

Posted in Cashmere, Countryside, Development, Environment, Grassland, Infrastructure, Policy, Policy, Public Policy, Regulation, Tourism | Tagged Julian Dierkes | 5 Comments

Impacts of International Exchanges

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes [With thanks to CIRDI’s Marie-Luise Ermisch for contributing some of these.] During the first workshop we co-organized with the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Cooperation Fund, a number of impacts arose in an incidental manner, but … Continue reading →

Posted in CIRDI, Development, International Agreements, Kyrgyz Republic, Mining Governance | Tagged Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

More on Re-Forming the DP

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

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 Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

Kyrgyzstan: An Excursion

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes I have been traveling very regularly to Mongolia for over 10 years now. At the same time, I also spend a lot of time in Japan and in Europe, but it is easy to disassociate those latter … Continue reading →

Posted in Curios, Kyrgyz Republic | Tagged Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

Early Presidential Election Speculation

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

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 Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

The Nationalization of Erdenet Copper – Challenges for SOEs

Posted on November 15, 2016 by mendee

By Mendee J At a recent Standing Committee hearing, Ts. Nyamdorj, Vice Speaker of the Mongolian Parliament asked to meet with the new shareholders of the Erdenet Mining Corporation, especially the secret boss (link). The deal, which saw 49% of … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Erdenet, Mendee Jargalsaikhan, Mining, Mining Governance | Tagged MENDEE Jargalsaikhan | Leave a comment

Mongolia – Rich in Governance Models

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes These days, the optimism regarding Mongolia’s development (economic, political, social) has turned into a disappointed consternation, “how could things go so wrong?”. Of course, the answer is mostly a domestic political one, but is also linked to … Continue reading →

Posted in Development, JD Mining Governance, Kyrgyz Republic, Mining Governance | Tagged Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

Bishkek ICF-CIRDI Workshop “Sound Management of Natural Resources: The State’s Role in the Resource Sector”

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

Co-Organized, Funded, and Hosted by: International Cooperation Fund (ICF), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Global Affairs Canada through the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute, Oslo Governance Centre for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights, and University of Central Asia … Continue reading →

Posted in CIRDI, Development, EITI, International Cooperation Fund, JD Mining Governance, Kyrgyz Republic, Mining, Mining Governance, Mongolia and ..., Myanmar, Timor Leste | Tagged Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

The Diplomat Podcast on Mongolia as Asia’s Hidden Geopolitical Player

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes I’m finally getting around to listening to The Diplomat’s podcast episode focused on Mongolia, “Northeast Asia’s Hidden Geopolitical Player“. Ankit Panda, one of the editors of The Diplomat, speaks to Peter Bittner who spent some time in … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Foreign Policy, Japan, Mongolia and ..., North Korea, Podcast, Social Media, South Korea | Tagged Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

Speculation Surrounding Erdenet Sale

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

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 Julian Dierkes | 7 Comments

Let’s Imagine a Rosy MPP Future

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

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 Julian Dierkes | 2 Comments

Election Impressions Germany vs Mongolia

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

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 Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

Future of the DP?

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

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 Julian Dierkes | Leave a comment

Yearly Archives: 2016

Recent Posts

Topics for Mongolia Focus

Archives