#Mongolia-n politicians at it again: constitutional amendments to enable mixed majoritarian-proportional election system on the way.

When electoral reform is often a party-self-interested quagmire in other democracies, every election in Mongolia brings new decisions. Together with @marissa_j_smith I try to understand what motivates party support for the current changes.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/party-landscape-constitutional-amendments-pluralism/

#MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

#Mongolia-n parliament moves forward on constitutional amendment to adopt mixed (majoritarian and proportional) electoral system and increase membership of parliament from 76 to 126.

https://news.mn/en/799352/

Last month I had offered some observations about these amendments, then still based on proposal to double size of parliament.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/constitutional-amendments-expansion-uix-proportional/

#MGLpoli
@mongoliastudies

As always on #Mongolia visits, I'll be soaking up (views on) political developments during my visit.

Hoping that a locked gate to the park behind government house with a torn-up path is not a metaphor for constitutional and electoral system change...

#MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

#UBC's Bulgan B makes case for generational perspective on contemporary social change in #Mongolia

"younger generations of Mongolians are slowly but surely taking charge of the politics and economy in Mongolia. It is exciting to explore the trends and implications of this generational shift and to see how this generation will shape the future of our country."

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/generational-shift-millennials/

#MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

During protests about coal #corruption in Dec '22, govt of #Mongolia pledged renewed efforts to combat corrupt practices. An electronic coal market has been created and now there's a National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

What prompted this reaction and what does the strategy consist of?

Lawyer D Tegshbayar provides some insights.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/guest-post-corruption-iaac-strategy-ngos-business/

#MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

Coal corruption case at state-owned Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi led to sustained protests in #Mongolia in Dec 2022.

A Ahearn and G Munkh-Erdene look at history of #corruption and where recent case fits in.

"The coal smuggling scandal is another example of the culture of corruption in a long line of similar events. But it is unclear why the Mongolian government only uncovered this so-called open secret of coal smuggling within its own party now."

https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/04/17/coal-smuggling-trains-the-mongolian-publics-eye-on-systemic-corruption/

@mongoliastudies #MGLpoli

I was quoted in The Times on #Mongolia's democracy.

"If you had a checklist, you’d say that Mongolia is doing well, particularly in an era of democratic backsliding around the world, and in a neighbourhood that is not friendly to democracy."

@Anand also quoted, "If things don’t change, and if something bad happens again I think we will see another protest”.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/squeezed-between-russia-and-china-mongolians-fight-for-their-democracy-at-minus-30c-gmpjgxqjl

@mongoliastudies #MGLpoli

#UBC student E Gordillo writes abt land grabs in #Mongolia in context of resource exploitation.

https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/land-grabs-and-the-cost-of-mining-in-mongolia/

"Ultimately, considerations about local people’s well-being should be at the forefront of all ongoing and new mining project development in Mongolia. Mining companies should respect herders’ rights to a clean and safe environment."

#MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

Lots of articles abt Tibetan Buddhist reincarnations identified in #Mongolia in some big English-language media outlets, in fact more than we might expect for, say a change of government, but happy for the interest in Mongolia.

I weigh in on the implications of clerical decisions for Sino-Mongolian relations on NPR's Weekend Edition.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/01/1167587452/a-mongolian-boy-has-been-declared-an-important-leader-for-tibetan-buddhists

#MGLpoli #MGLfp @mongoliastudies

Interviewed by NPR's Scott Simon about announcement of reincarnation of Jetsundamba Khutukhtu and in particular implications for Sino-#Mongolia-n relations. To air on "Weekend Edition".

#MGLfp #MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

Interviewed by NPR's Scott Simon about announcement of reincarnation of Jetsundamba Khutukhtu. To air on "Weekend Edition" and particularly implications for Sino-#Mongolia-n relations.

#MGLfp #MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

Once again, discussions abt changes to electoral law in #Mongolia which might necessitate constitutional change. Under consideration:
- mixed proportional/first-past-the-post system to elect 150 MPs (up from 76) with minimum threshold for porportional
- voting rights for Mongolians living abroad
- women's quota (up to 30%)

Uncertain abt likelihood of any of this being enacted. See https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/challenges-knowing-future-politics/ for some reasons for uncertainty.

#MGLpoli
@mongoliastudies

Late March? Must be about time for some protests in #Mongolia

I wrote about the likelihood of that some weeks ago, but also about the difficulty of making those kind of predictions.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/challenges-knowing-future-politics/

#MGLpoli
@mongoliastudies

I find it odd that #Mongolia-n governments efforts against corruption following Dec 2022 protests are now so focused on corrupt individuals who have fled abroad.

Seems like there would be many potential targets currently residing in 🇲🇳 , some of whom might even still be in office...

@mongoliastudies #MGLpoli

I was under impression that planned gas pipeline RUS->CHN thru #Mongolia was likely to run alongside Transsiberian rail, but most recent announcement seems to leave that an open question.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/mongolia-decide-gas-pipeline-route-after-russia-china-cost-agreement-2023-03-15/

Significant implications in terms of environmental safeguards, tho project is unlikely to generate much local employment, so perhaps environmental concerns foremost.

@mongoliastudies #MGLpoli

Controversial social media law vetoed by president of #Mongolia coming back to parliament as Duuya Baatar describes:
https://open.substack.com/pub/duuyaatnest/p/controversial-social-media-law-of

I had commented on some flaws in law last month:
https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/lawmaking-criticism-freedoms/

#MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

St Brown (prof, UOttawa) has analyzed Canadian foreign aid to #Mongolia

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/02255189.2023.2184330

Thru his careful analysis, Brown concludes that, "failed partnership with 🇲🇳 highlights disappointments that can arise when donors place own priorities over needs of poor people in developing countries & dilute poverty-fighting missions w/ commercial self-interest."

#CDNfp #MGLfp #MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

By by reckoning, there is an 85% chance that MPP will be led into summer 2024 election by someone other than Oyun-Erdene. Why?
-PMs don't serve full terms (exception Enkhbayar)
-political mood now

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/challenges-knowing-future-politics/

#Mongolia #MGLpoli
@mongoliastudies

Do you think early elections are coming in #Mongolia? I don't because
-I've heard those arguments before, but never happened
-wld require constitutional change & 3/4 majority in parliament
-does anyone actually want early elections?
-discussions abt electoral systems etc also not new, no urgent need
-consideration of constitutional amendment paralyzes all other parliamentary business.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/challenges-knowing-future-politics/

#MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

In November I was invited to #Mongolia-n parliament working group on a draft higher education law.

I observed that formal governance structure for 🇲🇳 universities is quite similar to BC, 🇨🇦 , tho practice may differ significantly, particular in making appointments.

Surprisingly, lots of questions about endowments even tho I don't see much relevance to 🇲🇳 higher education.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/higher-education-policy/

#MGLpoli @mongoliastudies