Kánságtól a köztársaságig. Mongólia története a mandzsu kortól a 21. századig

The Mongols have been a defining figure in the history of the Eurasian region for centuries. They are the only nomadic people in Inner Asia that have been able to survive the creation of their independent empire and its subsequent fall, preserving their identity and the tradition of statehood. This book attempts to introduce the reader to the modern history of Mongolia, from the Manchu period to the present day, covering not only the political but also the economic, social, and cultural changes. It illustrates the foreign policy strategies followed during the 20th century to achieve and maintain independence in a country wedged between Russia and China. We can learn how the Mongolian theocracy was created and what role the leader of Mongolian Buddhism played in the autonomy aspirations of the early 20th century. The book reviews the power struggles that led to Mongolia's path to socialism, detailing how industrialization and collectivization, following the Soviet model, took place and how the system was adapted to nomadic conditions. In the decades since the regime change, Mongolians can finally celebrate their true independence after a long time. However, the democratic transition, the shift to a market economy, and globalization have also presented the country with new challenges. A marked social and cultural transformation has begun, into which the author provides insight based on his own field experiences. Today, more than two-thirds of the Mongolian population lives in cities, and with the decline of the rural population, the traditional nomadic lifestyle and culture that have defined Mongolians for centuries is gradually receding into the background, although it remains an important point of reference and one of the cornerstones of their identity.