ABSTRACT
Mongolia adopted many Russian and Soviet cultural elements during the twentieth century. When Mongolia recovered its de facto independence in the 1990s, it began to emphasize Mongol ethnic and cultural identity. Cultural revival became an important task because it brought a sense of cultural security to Mongolia. Besides China and Russia, Mongolia has also absorbed cultural elements from existing developed countries. This is due not only to the effects of globalization but also to those of Mongolia’s foreign policy of “the third neighbor,” applied to secure its independence. This policy allows Mongolia to participate in a broader global network while creating a new identity. This chapter discusses the shifts of contested Mongolian identity and cultural security in the era after Mongolia adopted its new constitution in 1992.
