ABSTRACT
After 70 years of socialist isolation as a Soviet satellite, Mongolia successfully reinvented itself during the last 25 years as a democratic, free market nation integrated into the global marketplace. The vibrancy of Mongolia's democracy is evidenced in its 14 national elections (presidential and parliamentary) and 17 local parliamentary elections since 1990 … An American observer of Mongolia's 25 years of democracy has asserted: “A democratic anchor in an increasingly undemocratic region, Mongolia is uniquely positioned to be a role model of successful democratic transition as well as a case study in how to address the myriad challenges that a new and consolidating democracy faces” (Green, 2015). That nation has a long, storied history dating back to its founder, Chinggis (aka Genghis) Khan, but only recaptured the world's attention in the past decade because of its rich mineral resources potential. In the past Mongolia evoked a romantic or exotic appeal – negative and positive – in the minds of outsiders. It has been so isolated on its cold and inhospitable landlocked plateau, in the center of a giant Eurasian continental mass, distinct from any of its various sub-regions, that for most of contemporary history it was considered backward or ignored completely. Its precarious geographical position, sandwiched between the giant populated powers of Russia and China, was the rationale given for decades of economic stagnation and political repression.
