It’s alive — it’s alive! Much like Frankenstein’s resurrection, Mongolia’s Constitutional Court has brought the government back to life.

It’s been a turbulent month in Mongolian politics. The ruling party’s leadership battle fractured the party, government, and parliament—leading to the ouster of the prime minister and the resignation of the speaker. But in a dramatic turn, the Constitutional Court ruled the vote to dismiss the prime minister unconstitutional, marking a major moment in Mongolia’s legal and political history.

This ruling reaffirms Mongolia as a nation governed by law — yet it also raises new questions about the limits of power in a single-chamber parliament.

In this episode of The Great State Mural, lawyer Manduul Altangerel joins us to unpack the implications of the Constitutional Court’s decision and what it means for Mongolia’s political and legal systems.

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SPECIAL EPISODE:
Mongolia saw unprecedented political crises in its democratic history. As Mongolia's ruling party—the Mongolian People's Party (MPP)—waged war within itself over the leadership position, the battle culminated in both Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav and Speaker of the State Great Khural Amarbaysgalan Dashzegve being dismissed in a single parliamentary session.

Zandanshatar’s removal marks one of the shortest tenures for a Mongolian prime minister, a fate he might have avoided.

In this episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, we break down what led to this turmoil, how party infighting brought the government to its knees, and what might come next for Mongolia’s political future.

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The infighting hasn't stopped, and things are just heating up. In this episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, we turn our attention to the feud within the Mongolian People’s Party. Prime Minister Zandanshatar losing party chair vote Speaker Amarbayasgalan has opened the floodgates of all the corruption allegations from bothsides.

Who is winning from this mudslinging? While the party leadership are talking behind doors, deciding their power dynamics, teachers and health workers are demanding better wages, and their demands are falling on deaf ears.

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In our 10th episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, we will discuss the 100 days of Zandanshatar Gombojov in office as the Prime Minister of Mongolia.

This month marked the first 100 days of Mongolia’s new Prime Minister, Zandanshatar Gombojav, who stepped in after Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai was ousted in a no-confidence vote. Zandanshatar entered office promising both continuity and urgent fixes to the economy, as he promised cuts to government spending. He worked to rally public support and steady the economy—but just 100 days in, his legitimacy came under fire.

After losing the Mongolian People's Party chairmanship vote, cracks have begun to show within the ruling party itself. In this episode, we unpack Zandanshatar’s lackluster start to his premiership, the internal cracks of the MPP, and what his shaky footing means for Mongolia’s political future.

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In this episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, we explore why progressive movements have struggled to take root in Mongolia. Despite three decades of democracy, the country has made significant progress in social equality, labor rights, environmental justice, and gender equity. However, national politics frequently ignores and fails to recognize these accomplishments.

In Mongolia today, public debate and political discourse lean heavily toward libertarian and capitalist ideas, with media often amplifying right-wing perspectives. But why do progressive movements and ideas receive so little attention? Is this neglect rooted in Mongolia’s socialist past, or are other forces at play?We talk with Khishigtugs Amarbayasgalan, a sociology graduate student at the University of Mannheim, whose viral social media posts on inequality, capitalism, and progressive ideas have sparked debate in Mongolia. He shares his perspective on why progressive movements have struggled to gain traction in the country — and what it will take to change that.You can also check out his piece on Natsagdorj and his ties to progressive thought at Mongolia focus: Guest Post: May Day by Natsagdorj - Mongolia FocusMongolia Focus

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In this episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, we take a closer look at Mongolia’s education system as a new school year begins. While education is deeply valued and widely celebrated, the system itself struggles to keep pace with the country’s needs.

Children in public schools face steep barriers compared to children who attend private schools, while public school teachers battle overcrowded classrooms, stagnant wages, and a lack of institutional support. Despite the challenges, education remains at the heart of Mongolia’s future—yet the question lingers: is the leadership doing enough to truly support it? We explore this and talk in depth about Mongolia's education system.

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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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