Mongolia in the Twentieth Century

The remote vastness of Mongolia has always been a mystery to most Westerners -- no less so in the twentieth century. It is perhaps the most intriguing of the post-communist "transition" societies.

This volume examines Mongolia's history over the past century, embracing not only Mongolia proper but also Mongol communities in Russia and China. It is based on new archival research and the latest fieldwork, and includes contributions from the world's top experts, including four authors from Mongolia and others from Japan, Russia, Taiwan, Great Britain, and the United States.

The remote vastness of Mongolia has remained somewhat of a mystery to most Westerners - no less so in the 20th century. Homeland of the legendary conqueror Chingiz Khan, in modern times Mongolia itself has been the object of imperial rivalry. For most of the 20th century it was under Soviet domination. Mikhail Gorbachev began the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Mongolia in 1989, a process completed in 1992. By 1996 a coalition of opposition parties triumphed in national elections, and Mongolia launched itself on a new course. It is perhaps the most intriguing of the post-community "transition" societies. This volume examines Mongol history over the past century, embracing not only Mongolia proper but also Mongol communities in Russia and China. Contributions, based on new archival research and the latest fieldwork, are from the world's top experts in the field - including four authors from Mongolia and others from Japan, Russia, Taiwan, Great Britain and the United States. Stephen Kotkin's introductory chapter is an overview of Mongol studies. The essays in part 1 examine Sino-Russian competition over Outer Mongolia. Part 2 looks at international diplomacy in Mongolia, including the role of Japan. Part 3 focuses on contemporary issues ranging from economic and cultural change to emergent elites. A concluding essay surveys Mongolian foreign policy.

Part 1 Sino-Russian Competition Over Outer Mongolia: China's "New Administration" in Mongolia, Lan Meihua; Russian Merchants in Mongolia - the 1910 Moscow Trade Expedition, Elizabeth Endicott; Russian Diplomats and Mongol Independence, 1911-1915, Nakami Tatsuo; The Buriat Alphabet of Agvan Dorzhiev, Yeshen-Khorlo Dugarova-Montgomery and Robert Montgomery. Part 2 International Diplomacy Concerning Outer Mongolia: Aspects of Soviet-Mongolian Relations, 1929-1939, Elena Boikova; The Final Consolidation of the USSR's Sphere of Interest in Outer Mongolia, Bruce A. Elleman; Sino-Soviet Diplomacy and the Second Partition of Mongolia, 1945-1946, Christopher P. Atwood; Mongolia and Japan in 1945-1995 - a Half Century Reconsidered, Ts. Batbayar. Part 3 Mongolia Today: A Survey of the Mongols in Present-Day China - Perspectives on Demography and Culture Change, A. Hurelbaatar; Mobility, Technology and Decollectivization of Pastoralism in Mongolia, David Sneath; The 800th Anniversary of Chingis Khan - the Revival and Suppression of Mongolian National Consciousness, J. Boldbaatar; Nationalism, Elites and Mongolia's Rapid Transformation, Tom Ginsburg; Epilogue - Mongolia's Foreign Policy Revisited - Relations with Russia and the PRC into the 1990s, G. Tunurchulunn.

Stephen Kotkin, Bruce Allen Elleman