In this episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, we have our first guest on the show, Professor Sergey Radchenko. In this episode, we step back in time to explore Mongolia’s role as a Soviet satellite state and what role Mongolia played in Stalin's aspirations for Asia. Professor Sergey Radchenko explains why Mongolia mattered to Stalin, from trying to wedge Mongolia away from China to how Mongolian leaders themselves emulated Stalin and pushed the Soviet Union's agenda for their own gain or preservation.

Check out Sergey Radchenko's new book: Sergey Radchenko, "To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power" (Cambridge UP, 2024) - New Books Network

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In this episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, we turn our focus to Mongolia’s youth. Often described as one of the world’s youngest democracies, Mongolia has carried that label for over three decades now. But is that moniker still valid? And is the younger generation truly engaged in the democratic process, or are there barriers preventing them from taking a more active role?

Hosts Dolgion Aldar, Julian Dierkes, and Anand Tumurtogoo explore how young Mongolians interact with politics, what challenges discourage their involvement, and whether political apathy is truly growing — or if there’s more beneath the surface than meets the eye.

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In this episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, we unpack the newly seated government and their attempts to amend the 2025 state budget following the resignation of former Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene. Are the changes to the amendment justified, or is Mongolia making the same mistake they have made before?

hosts Dolgion Aldar, Julian Dierkes, and Anand Tumurtogoo examines the prime minister's approach to amending the budget as the new government proposes spending cuts, the lack of economic diversification, and the political habit of fast-tracking reforms during crises—including the failure to implement a functioning sovereign wealth fund. And how the dependence on mining seems to blindside Mongolian politicians to the volatility of Mongolia's economy.

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While our podcast primarily explores Mongolia’s politics and society, we’ll also take time to dive into the rich cultural heritage and traditions that shapes Mongolia.

In this special episode, we introduce a foundational theme of the show: “The Three Universals” — a concept rooted in Mongolian oral folk tradition. And our own three universals at the top of the episodes will serve as a guiding thread — our “north star” — for future discussions.

Whether you're new to Mongolian culture or looking to reconnect with its philosophical roots, this episode offers a meaningful introduction to the values that continue to shape Mongolia today.

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Zandanshatar Gombojav, the former speaker of Parliament and the president's chief of staff, has been appointed Mongolia's new Prime Minister. We will look at who Zandanshatar is and how he rose to become the new prime minister, his legitimacy as prime minister given that he does not have a place in parliament, and his new cabinet.

EDIT: There were audio issues with the first upload. resolved those issues in the new upload.

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Due to technical issues, our main topic discussion on the new Prime Minister of Mongolia was lost. But we still wanted to give something to our listeners, so please enjoy why and how we started this podcast.

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In today’s episode, we’re diving into the resignation of Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene—how it unfolded, what led to this turning point, and what it means for Mongolia’s political future.

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