Memo #209
Featuring Robert Bedeski – rbedeski [at] uvic.ca
States are a paradox. On the one hand, with a monopoly on the use of force, they provide security, but on the other the formation of the state is often accompanied by violence.
The example of Mongolia is an interesting demonstration of this. Genghis Khan’s unforgiving destruction of enemies shows state formation to be brutal, but this was accompanies by the development of the rule of law and a written language, through which the nation developed.
Contemporary Mongolia is at a tipping point. It retains a multi-party political system, and a relatively free press, but is looking to demand from the Chinese economy as a source of growth. The question looking forward is whether Mongolia will align with Russia or China, or whether it will ally even more closely with “third neighbours”.
State Formation and Contemporary Mongolia (4.53 minutes)
About the Interviewee:
Dr. Robert Bedeski is Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Professor in the department of Political Science, The University of Victoria.
Links:
- “Mongolian Futures: Scenarios for a Landlocked State“, 2008 (by Robert Bedeski)
- “The Chinese Diaspora, Mongolia and the Sino-Russian Frontier“, JPRI Working Paper (by Robert Bedeski)
Related Memos:
- See our other memos onĀ Mongolia
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