Institute of Asian Research

Program on Inner Asia: Mongolia Lecture Series

Within Inner Asia, Mongolia is of particular interest given its political and historical development, as well as recent investments by Canadian firms.

Not only is Mongolia of great interest for its geopolitical position between Russia and the PRC, but its geographical features offer many similarities with Canada (sparse and concentrated population, boreal forests, neck-to-neck race between Ottawa and Ulaanbaatar as 'coldest capital in the world', etc.). Mongolia's continuing relations with Russia and other former Soviet states in Central Asia and with North Korea recommend its democratic government as a possible conduit for democratization policies. Its religious heritage (Tibetan Buddhism) and rich early historical record also make Mongolia a rich source of historical debates. Finally, contemporary policy-making offers some innovative and unusual features in the areas of language policies (the re-establishment of a previously abolished script), educational policies (post-Soviet decline of literacy, strongly influence of the donor community), and resource management (on-going discussions on frameworks for exploitation of rich mineral deposits and other resources).

The Mongolia Lecture Series hopes to feature academic presentations on these and other issues related to historical and contemporary Mongolia.

Lecture Series Schedule

All events to be held in the Conference Room (Room 120) of the CK Choi Bldg. for the Institute of Asian Research (1855 West Mall, UBC Campus, Vancouver) unless otherwise noted.
All events are open and free to the public.

• Feb 27, 2008
  Simon Wickham-Smith (Center for Central Asian Literatures in Translation)
  "Grass Poets and UB Boys: The Mongolian Literary Scene Since 1990"

Lecture Series: Tibet-Mongolia Links in Religion and Medicine

During the academic year 2007-08 Tsering Shakya (Institute of Asian Research, UBC), Craig Janes (Health Sciences, SFU) and Julian Dierkes (Institute of Asian Research, UBC) are organizing a lecture series on "Tibet-Mongolia Links in Religion and Medicine" with the support of the Silkroad Foundation. Please see the lecture series webpage for more details.

Past Lectures

• Nov 29, 2005, 5pm
  H.E. D Gotov, Mongolian Ambassador to Canada
  "Northeast Asia and Mongolia: Infrastructure Issues"

• Jan 11, 2006
  Henry Schwarz, Professor Emeritus, Western Washington University; President, The Mongolia Society of the United States; and Vice-President, International Association for Mongol Studies
  "Mongolia at 800 : State and Nation Since Chinggis Khan"

• Feb 24, 2006 (Boardroom, Liu Institute for Global Issues)
  Daniel Waugh, History, University of Washington; Silk Road Seattle
  "When Mongolia Was the Center of the World: Exploring the Past in Inner Asia"

• March 30, 2006
  Temuulen Tsagaan Sankey, Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University
  "20th Century Grazing Practices in Mongolia and Their Effects on Forests an Grasslands"
• Oct 25, 2006, 4:30pm
  Galsan Tschinag, Author (The Blue Sky, Oolichan Books, September 2006) and Shaman
• Nov 2, 2006
  Charles Krusekopf (American Center for Mongolian Studies, and RoyalRoads University)
  "Land Tenure in Mongolia and Southern (Inner) Mongolia: Its Impact on Economic Development, Social Equity, the Environment and Culture"
• Jan 24, 2007, 4:30-6p
  Hsingyuan Tsao (Art History, Visual Art, and Theory, UBC)
  "Image, and Self-Image of Mongols in Contemporary China"
• Feb 28, 2007, 5:30-7p
  Marcello Veiga (Mining Engineering, UBC)
  "Artisinal Mining in Mongolia"
• Mar 14, 2007
  Craig Janes (SFU)
  "Modern Nomads: Globalizing Pastoralism in Mongolia"
• On Monday, March 26, 2007, the Mongolian film "The Cave of the Yellow Dog" was screened as a part of the IAR Asian Film Festival.
• Nov 14, 2007, 5-6:30pm
  Dave McClung (Geography, UBC)
  "Altai Range, Northwest Mongolia (with Comparison to Other Glaciated Areas Along the Silk Road)"
• Feb 15, 2008, 5pm
  Chuluundorj KHASHCHULUUN, National University of Mongolia
  "Mongolia's Dilemma: Ensuring benefits from mining development to the nation vs business considerations"

To be informed of upcoming events, offer suggestions for future activities or receive additional information, please contact Julian Dierkes.

February 2008