Mongolia Today

First published in 1991 Mongolia Today presents a collection of essays by leading scholars in the field and gives important insights into the economic, political, legal and military systems of Mongolia. The Mongolian People's Republic, formerly known as ‘Outer Mongolia’, is three times the size of France but has population of just two million. Sandwiched between Russia and China, this remote heartland of Asia has long been one of the most inaccessible places in the world, its isolation preserved by political as well as geographical barriers. The modern history of Mongolia has been dominated by its two great neighbours: strong economic and political ties with the erstwhile Soviet Union and problematic relations with China. Relations with the West have been slow to develop. Post-cold war, Mongolia is willing to explore new relationships with other parts of the world and transform this once isolated land into a trading partner of international potential. This is an essential read for scholars and researchers of Central Asian studies, Asian politics, and Chinese studies.

This is a wide-ranging collection of essays written by experts in the field. The variety of topics provide an interdisciplinary approach to the study of contemporary Mongolia. Topics include the impact of industrialization in Mongolia, environmental policies of the nation, the status of modern biotechnology in Mongolia, Mongolian dairy products, traditional husbandry techniques practised by nomadic people, a description of medicinal plants and their uses in Mongolian traditional medicine, descriptions of unique Mongolian birds, fishes and microbiota, discussion of the fascinating flora and fauna of the Gobi region, and a conservation case-study of the endangered Gobi bear.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of Plates -- Foreword -- In Memory of Andrei Dmitrievich Simukov (1902-1942) -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Map 1 Mongolia -- Map 2 Endangered species of birds in Mongolia -- Map 3 Distribution of fish species in Mongolia -- Part I Modernization -- 1 The Impacts of Industrialization in Mongolia -- 2 Environmental Policy in Mongolia -- 3 Review of Developments in Biotechnology in Mongolia -- Part II Traditional Culture and Indigenous Technologies -- 4 Mongolian Dairy Products -- 5 Traditional Animal Husbandry Techniques Practiced by Mongolian Nomadic People -- 6 Medicinal Plants of Mongolia and Their Use in Traditional Medicine -- Part III Biodiversity -- 7 Mongolian Birds -- 8 Mongolian Limnology and Ichthyology -- 9 Unique Microbiota of Mongolia -- 10 Flora and Fauna of the Gobi Desert -- 11 Conservation Case Study of the Gobi Bear -- Annex 1: List of Contributors -- Annex 2: World Wide Web Sites Pertaining to Mongolia Compiled and Annotated by Beth Ann Bowers -- Index.

Papers presented in a student-faculty seminar on the theme Mongolia Today on 26 March 2012, organised by the UGC's Central Asian Area Studies Programme, Centre for South, Central, Southeast Asian and Southwest Pacific Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

This work explores the history and lifestyle of a society that has long fascinated the Western world. It offers a study of various political, economic, social, and cultural changes Mongolians have endured over the past 800 years. A resource for both student and general readers.

Since the country’s transition from communism two decades ago, the Mongolian economy has experienced rapid liberalisation. Sectors including ICT and insurance are expanding quickly and, while the mining sector has been responsible for making Mongolia a rising star in the global economy, there is great potential for further growth in all economic sectors. Politically stable and rich with natural resources, Mongolia has emerged as a bellwether for investor confidence in recent years. The 2013 commercialisation of the Oyu Tolgoi gold and copper mine is helping to diversify Mongolia’s mineral exports away from coal, while the government is working to improve the investment environment by adopting the new Investment Law, among other measures. Challenges do exist, however, from the long harsh winters that slow construction to the difficulty of connecting the sparsely populated nation through ICT and transport systems. In response, the government has partnered with the private sector on a number of fronts in order to promote economic diversification and competitiveness.