earticle

영어

In this paper I am analyzing Mongolia’s unique geoeconomic location in between Russia and China. I argue that it is essential that Mongolia be considered as a civilization of its own rather than a satellite or vassal of either of its two big neighbors. I start by analyzing Mongolia’s comparative advantages with respect to China and Russia and stress Mongolia’s importance as home to the world’s most significant strategic deposits, and as a transit country. An historical journey reveals that Mongolia has been strongly influenced by the former Soviet Union for most of the twentieth century so that ignoring this influence is counterproductive, while it makes every economic and political sense making use of it. The key idea in this essay is that neither Russia nor China should be trying to make Mongolia part of its sphere of interests. Rather, a balanced cooperation with the two countries is necessary to achieve both economic prosperity and the solution of brewing ethnical problems in the region.