Institute of International Studies (IIS), Mongolian Academy of Sciences

The Institute of International Studies, at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, is a research organization that specializes in fundamental theoretical studies in international relations and foreign countries. Since its establishment in 1968, the Institute has carried out many primary activities in providing research support in the decision-making process of Mongolia’s foreign policy, creating new knowledge, and educating the public.

History

After Mongolia became a member state of the United Nations in 1961, with its increasing reputation in the international community, Mongolia faced an inevitable demand of expanding its foreign relations. At this time, the Mongolian Academy of Sciences started promoting studies in natural and social science departments. One of these new departments was international studies, to study foreign relations and foreign countries, first established as the Department of Asian and African Studies in 1968. Later, with expanded activities and research areas, the Department became the Institute of Oriental Studies in 1976, and since 1999 we have been operating under the name Institute of International Studies. The outcomes of our publications, academic journals, organized conferences, and prepared policy recommendations show that our academic team, which exclusively conducts basic research, has made a significant contribution to the development of foreign studies in Mongolia, especially studies in neighboring countries and regional and multilateral relations, in close coordination with the country’s national interests and foreign policy priorities. From this point of view, we have been fully focused on studying the interests, policies, objectives, development, history, and culture of Russia, China, third neighboring countries, and regional and multilateral cooperation.

Department of Russian Studies

When the Institute of International Studies was established in 1999, the Department of Russian Studies began its research independently. The Department aims to study Russia’s foreign policy, activities, and perspectives in the region, run a comparative study in the history and current situation of Russia, analyze the mechanism of Mongolia-Russian relations, and propose a scientifically based research recommendation for the implementation of foreign policy concept. In expanding and developing Russian studies, the department intends to rely on the historical path of the relations between the two countries and the modern requirements. For this purpose, the department continues to organize successfully numerous academic conferences, international meetings, and forums, and to publish books and pamphlets that will be a valuable contribution to Mongolia’s foreign policy and science.

Department of Chinese Studies

Department of Chinese Studies was one of the first three sectors of the Institute of Oriental studies that has been restructured in 1976. Since its establishment, the department has been systematically studying neighboring China, in the field of country studies from the perspective of basic research. Generations of scientists have been able to study, as much as possible, the history and traditions of China’s early and modern civilization, the history of Mongolian-Chinese relations, the modern state of China, the development goals it sets, the challenges it overcomes, the characteristics of social development, geopolitical and geo-economics policies, and the uniqueness of the Chinese spirit in our industry, and publish many works based on the results of their research. The staff of the department conduct researches focusing on Chinese politics, economy, religion and culture, education, science, minority ethnic policy, green development policy, Mongolian-Chinese relations, and China’s foreign policy within the framework of the main research areas of the sector.

Department of Third Neighbor Studies

The Concept of National Security of Mongolia (2010) and the Concept of Foreign Policy of Mongolia (2011) defined the issue of the “third neighbor” [2] as one of the important directions of the Mongolian state’s foreign policy. The main content of the “Third Neighbor” policy is the development of mutually beneficial friendship and cooperation based on the principles of human rights, freedom, democracy, and market relations with the third country along with the two great neighbors. The main areas of research in this department cover political, social, and economic situations, internal and external policies, and development experiences of “third neighbor” countries, such as the USA, Japan, the EU, the Republic of Turkey, and the Republic of India, bilateral relations developed by Mongolia with “third neighbor” countries, the history, modernity and status of cooperation, and the implementation of joint projects.

Department of Regional and Multilateral Cooperation Studies

The research areas of the department include researching, and evaluating Mongolia’s cooperation with specialized agencies of the United Nations and international and regional organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the Asian Development Bank, the European Development Bank, as well as the countries of East Asia and Central Asia, the Economic Corridor of Mongolia, Russia, and China in the field of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as determining the potential threats, risks, opportunities, importance, and effects.

Publications

The Institute of International Studies has two main publications: International Studies journal – an internationally recognized semi-annual bulletin in Mongolian since 1978, which scientifically studies and evaluates multifaceted problems of international studies, foreign policy, and international relations. Mongolian Journal of International Affairs – Published in 1994, is an annual peer-reviewed journal in the field of foreign affairs and international relations in Mongolia.

E-Catalog

The Institute of International Studies of Mongolian Academy of Sciences has set the goal of becoming an e-institute, and in 2021, with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, successfully implemented the project of creating an electronic database of academic articles. Currently, the institute’s electronic database provides, without time and space limitations, a wide opportunity for the public to view and learn about 1,100 relevant academic works of the institute’s scientists in 1978-1990, regarding geography, international relations, foreign policy, history, and social studies. In addition, all issues of the journals “International Studies” and “Mongolian Journal of International Affairs” from 1990 to 2020 are available online, becoming the first electronic journals in Mongolia, in the field of foreign studies and international relations, which conduct professional reviews and issue international DOI (Digital Object Identifier) numbers for academic works.