November 14-17, 2008
Vancouver, Canada

In Commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between Mongolia and Canada

Since the 1990 political revolution, Mongolia has emerged as one of the most stable democracies in the post-Soviet world. Exploration of mineral resources seems to offer the promise of economic development. Mongolia has forged new international alliances with "third neighbours". At the same time, development remains hampered by corruption, a lack of infrastructure, and the turbulences associated with transition to a market-economy. Some of the achievements of social development under state socialism are eroding with declining funding levels for education, rapid urbanization and increasing social inequalities.

In the year of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Mongolia, this major international conference will take stock of the current social-scientific research on contemporary Mongolia and offer opportunities for an exchange between academics, policy-makers and business people with an interest in Mongolia.

Spread over four days, academic discussions will focus on developments in Mongolia in the areas of research on agricultural economics/pastoralism, education, health, transition studies, religion, ecosystems, mining and economic development, and politics and international relations. The fourth day of the conference will be devoted to roundtable-discussions of an outlook for contemporary Mongolia. Participants will include the most prominent researchers on contemporary Mongolia, as well as government representatives, policy-makers and interested business people. 

Co-Hosted, Organized and Supported by the
Program on Inner Asia, Institute of Asian Resarch, UBC

Co-Hosted by the
Peter Wall Institute for Adanced Studies, UBC