Author Archives: mendee

About mendee

Jargalsaikhan Mendee is a Deputy Director of the Institute for Defense Studies of Mongolia. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of British Columbia, and MAs in International Relations from the US Naval Postgraduate School and in Asia-Pacific Policy Studies from the Institute of Asian Research of the University of British Columbia.

Guest Post: A quick reaction to the on-going Facebook conversations on Oyu Tolgoi agreement and the role of Mr Bayartsogt in signing it

Posted on March 28, 2018 by mendee

By Undariya Tumursukh The news that the Swiss are investigating the possible corruption case involving the former Finance Minister S. Bayartsogt (DP) and Rio Tinto has triggered some agitated discussion, including on Facebook, about Mr. Bayartsogt’s central role in concluding … Continue reading →

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Posted in Corruption, Foreign Investment, International Agreements, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Undariya Tumursukh | 1 Comment

Unequal Match: Mongolia versus Rio Tinto

Posted on February 1, 2018 by mendee

By Mendee Jargalsaikhan If one describes the bargaining game between Mongolia, a small and isolated resource-rich state, and Rio Tinto, a giant multinational corporation, through the Mongolian national pastime sport – wrestling, it is truly an unequal match between the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Economics, Foreign Investment, International Agreements, Mendee Jargalsaikhan, Mining, Mongolia and ..., Oyu Tolgoi | Tagged | Leave a comment

Раднаасэдийг өмөөрөхүй

Posted on November 4, 2017 by mendee

Ж.Мэндээ Үнэн үг гашуун, гэхдээ хэрэгтэй. Харин үнэнийг зориглон өчсөн нэгнээ мохоох учиргүй. Яг ийм байдлаас болоод өнөөдөр бид буруутайгаа эвлэрээд, буруу хандлагад дээрэлхүүлээд, одоо бүр дасчихлаа. Эрхэм гишүүн “Монголд өнөөдөр сайд хийх нэр цэвэр хүн олдохгүй, сайдаа гаднаас тавих … Continue reading →

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Posted in Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pleased by the Khurelsukh Cabinet

Posted on October 22, 2017 by mendee

By Mendee Jargalsaikhan  The recent political developments in Ulaanbaatar have brought ‘hopes’ for some and ‘disappointments’ for others while being simply neglected by the majority as ‘typical’ political jokers and gaming.  Because of the lack of FORMAL institutional lockings, I … Continue reading →

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Posted in Government, Judiciary, Mendee Jargalsaikhan, Mongolian People's Party, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

A New Prime Minister: Same Politics or Reform?

Posted on October 4, 2017 by mendee

By Mendee J The election of U Khurelsukh as Prime Minister and surrounding politicking raise two interesting questions: (1) Do they (so-called reformist faction of the MPP) mean business and want to reform the party?   Or, is the ‘second echelon’ … Continue reading →

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Posted in Mongolian People's Party, Party Politics, Politics | Tagged | 2 Comments

Presidential Debate or FAQ?

Posted on June 24, 2017 by mendee

By Mendee The presidential campaign closed with a two-hour debate on June 24.  Under the agreement between the DP, MPP, and MPRP for the debate, candidates were basically provided opportunities to express their views on frequently rumoured allegations during the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Corruption, Foreign Policy, Military, Presidential 2017 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Presidential Election: Diversion Tactics – Chinese Erliiz (Hybridity)

Posted on June 3, 2017 by mendee

by Mendee One of the classic belittling methods among Mongolian political candidates has been to call each other an ethnic hybridity of either Chinese or Russian and Mongolian.  This causes one to engage in fruitless defensive effort to prove his/her Mongolian … Continue reading →

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Posted in Democracy, Elections, Judiciary, Mendee Jargalsaikhan, Politics, Presidential 2017 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Presidential Election: A Game Already Started

Posted on May 31, 2017 by mendee

By Mendee  It seems the election battle already began in the Mongolian social media.  Tweets and posts about educational levels of three candidates were the first theme, but didn’t travel well.  Then, the classic technique of alleging candidate’s ethnic links, especially … Continue reading →

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

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 →

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

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

Guest Post: Reflections of Mining in 2016 Campaign Platforms

Posted on June 27, 2016 by mendee

By Enkhbat A Different Approaches to Mining The Mongolian parliamentary election will take place on June 29, 2016. There are 13 parties and 3 coalitions campaigning for the upcoming election. A brief analysis has been conducted on the four political entities, … Continue reading →

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Posted in CIRDI, Democratic Party, Economics, Elections, Enkhbat Avirmed, Environment, Ikh Khural 2016, Mining, Mining, Mining Governance, Mongolian People's Party, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party | Tagged | Leave a comment

Guest Post: Envisioning the future of Mongolia by students in Canada

Posted on April 5, 2016 by mendee

By Batdorj BULGAN On Monday, March 28, 2016 in Vancouver, Canada: UBC Mongolian Students and Alumni Club organized “The Future of Mongolia through Our Eyes”[Ирээдүй бидний нүдээр] workshop among Mongolian students in Vancouver. At the beginning of the workshop, the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Canada, Youth | Tagged | Leave a comment

Guest Post: The Construction of Mining Image in Socialist Mongolia

Posted on March 26, 2016 by mendee

By Enkhbat Avirmed Although Mongolians were relying on the pastoral economy up through the early 20th century, there were about 20 coal and gold mines operating in Mongolia by 1911. However, after the 1921 revolution, Mongolian leaders came under pressure … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cinema, CIRDI, Enkhbat Avirmed, Media and Press, Mining, Mining, Mining Governance, Pop Culture, Society and Culture | Tagged | 1 Comment

Mining Governance: In the Eyes of 2016 Graduates

Posted on February 18, 2016 by mendee

Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of 2016 graduates from universities and postgraduate schools either abroad or domestic alike.  All graduates have invested their energy, time, and money to attempt to learn everything that would equip them to become good … Continue reading →

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Posted in Mining, Mining, Mining Governance, Public Service, Uncategorized, Youth | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mining Governance: Learning from Erdenet

Posted on February 6, 2016 by mendee

By Mendee J As Mongolia struggles to make deals over giant mining projects like Oyu Tolgoi and Tavan Tolgoi, the country’s politicians, economists, mining professionals, and the public refer to Erdenet, the Mongolian-Russian joint copper and molybdenum factory, arguing whether or not lessons of  Erdenet would … Continue reading →

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Posted in CIRDI, Erdenet, Governance, Mining, Mining Governance | Tagged | 4 Comments