Category Archives: Security Apparatus

Akçay Mobilization

Posted on August 2, 2018 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes The late July apparent attempt to kidnap a Gülen-affiliated educator in Mongolia is still animating a lot of discussions one week later. The most pressing questions still surround the cooperation that some Mongolian authorities must have given … Continue reading →

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Posted in Civil Society, Primary and Secondary Education, Protest, Security Apparatus, Turkey | Tagged | Leave a comment

Turkish Attempt to Abduct Educator in Ulaanbaatar

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes and Mendee Jargalsaikhan More than just a curious spy story, this might turn into a full diplomatic crisis between Mongolia and Turkey, a relationship that has been active and vibrant for some years. Note that it is … Continue reading →

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Posted in Foreign Policy, Security Apparatus, Turkey | Tagged | 1 Comment

Joint Calls for Special Sessions to Removal of IAAC Leadership

Posted on July 25, 2018 by mendee

by Mendee Jargalsaikhan & Julian Dierkes In May, we wrote a primer on the Independent Authority against Corruption. The АТГ has been back in the news recently, partly because of on-going investigations against former politicians, but also because of battles between … Continue reading →

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Posted in Corruption, Governance, Ikh Khural 2016, Judiciary, Politics, Public Service, Security Apparatus | Tagged | Leave a comment

Virtual Nomination of Anti-Corruption Leaders: Political Innovations?

Posted on May 9, 2018 by mendee

By Mendee Jargalsaikhan and Julian Dierkes The role of social media continues to be something that we are watching closely. The most notable example of social-mediated democracy was Ch Saikhanbileg’s 2015 SMS poll. But, despite Mongolian politicians’ early embrace of … Continue reading →

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Posted in Corruption, Judiciary, Public Service, Security Apparatus, Social Media | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Primer on АТГ – the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) of Mongolia

Posted on April 4, 2018 by mendee

by Mendee Jargalsaikhan & Julian Dierkes “Авилгатай Тэмцэх Газар” (АТГ) or Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) of Mongolia has been all over the media – some describe it as ‘useless’, ‘politicized’, some compare with the ‘До Яам’ (Mongolian equivalent to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Corruption, Judiciary, Security Apparatus | Tagged | Leave a comment

Parliament Challenged

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes This fall has brought a series of political tussles over ambassadorships that have hinted at one of the great rising challenges in Mongolia’s governance, corruption seemingly becoming a systemic block rather than simply a surtax upon transactions … Continue reading →

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Posted in Corruption, Democracy, Party Politics, Politics, Security Apparatus | Tagged | Leave a comment

Risking Foreign Relations out of (Partisan) Pettiness

Posted on November 8, 2017 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes November is shaping up to be a very busy month of diplomacy across Asia, at least from a North American perspective. It is an odd time for the Mongolian president to seemingly hold some of Mongolia’s most … Continue reading →

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Posted in Canada, Foreign Policy, Germany, Japan, Mongolia and ..., Security Apparatus, South Korea, United States | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Election Day

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes The spectre of the July 1 2008 riots still loom over Mongolian elections. While full explanations never really emerged, it seems that those riots were a combination of some orchestration of protests, the latent potential for protests in … Continue reading →

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Posted in Elections, Ikh Khural 2016, JD Democratization, Protest, Security Apparatus | Tagged | Leave a comment

Democracy in Decline?

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes Dear Democracy, May you rest in peace. Sincerely, Mongolia. — Lkhagva Erdene (@Lkhagva) May 28, 2016 Is it time to worry seriously about the state of democracy in Mongolia? Mongolian Democracy in International Context Globally, democracy appears … Continue reading →

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Posted in Democracy, Elections, Governance, Ikh Khural 2016, JD Democratization, Media and Press, Party Politics, Politics, Security Apparatus | Tagged | 3 Comments

National Survey of Mongolian Public Opinion

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Julian Dierkes

By Bulgan B and Julian Dierkes Just three weeks after Santmaral’s PolitBarometer came out, we have another indicator of Mongolian public opinion, courtesy of IRI with funding from the Canadian government, the “National Survey of Mongolian Public Opinion”. (Full Results … Continue reading →

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Posted in Aimags, Countryside, Democracy, Democratic Party, Ikh Khural 2016, Media and Press, Mining Governance, Party Politics, Public Opinion, Research on Mongolia, Security Apparatus, Social Issues | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Permanent Neutrality

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Julian Dierkes

At the UN General Assembly, on Sept 29 2015, Pres. Ts Elbegdorj included a very brief statement in his address that, Mongolia has pursued an peaceful, open, multi-pillar foreign policy. This stance enabled us to declare Mongolia in a state … Continue reading →

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Posted in China, Foreign Policy, Military, Mongolia and ..., Russia, UN | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Feeling (Politically) Pessimistic for Coming Year

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes It is Tsagaan Sar, so happy new year to all of Mongolia and to Mongolians! Сар шинэдээ сайхан шинэлээрэй What will the year of the sheep bring? The sheep Gestalt (зурхай) seems to expect a windy Spring and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Constitution, Democracy, Democratic Party, Economics, Elections, Foreign Investment, Governance, Ikh Khural 2016, Inflation, JD Democratization, JD Mining Governance, Mongolian People's Party, Oyu Tolgoi, Party Politics, Policy, Politics, Populism, Security Apparatus | Tagged | 2 Comments

Parliament(s), Rifles and Me

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Julian Dierkes

By Julian Dierkes With all the turmoil in the Mongolian government at the moment it seems very challenging to write a blog post that will add any clarity as it will become obsolete virtually the moment I might press <publish> … Continue reading →

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Posted in Curios, Security Apparatus, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | Leave a comment

Khaan Quest 2014: a small exercise with big implications

Posted on June 24, 2014 by mendee

Just recovering from the heavy study term and now trying to join you all.  Here is a link to my recent op-ed on Khaan Quest, a brainchild of the US-Mongolian militaries over two decades of partnership.  The exercise is the only … Continue reading →

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Posted in Foreign Policy, Military, United States | Tagged | Leave a comment