Introduction

The context in which this volume has taken its shape revolves around a fundamental question central to academic discourse: how and why Mongolia’s political system has evolved so differently from its Soviet past. Particularly, when the country is positioned in difficult geographical situation due to its being landlocked between the two giant neighbours—Russia and China. Such a situation has often been considered as unfavourable for the birth of a democratic system. Yet, over the years, Mongolia has made significant progress in building a vibrant democratic political system and sustaining it successfully, with democratic governance being operated in institutional development and foreign policy amid broader political and economic transformations. While Mongolian politics emphasises social cohesion and national unity as essential elements of its democratic framework, Mongolian foreign policy is increasingly seen as a significant model of strategic balancing in contemporary geopolitics in the region and beyond. As such Mongolia’s engagement in multilateral diplomacy enhances the significance of its foreign policy strategy. This chapter introduces the subject matter of the volume with a focus on the relevance of various dimensions of Mongolian politics, foreign policy and governance. It offers insights into Mongolia’s democratic transition, diplomatic strategies, and policy implementation, drawing attention to the complex challenges addressed in this volume from local, regional and global perspectives.