Guardians of the Steppe: Grassroots Activism, Deliberative Democracy, and the Fight for Cautious Resource Politics in Mongolia

Abstract

Using Mongolia as a case study, this thesis explores how democracy can emerge and endure in a non-Western context through deliberative democratic theory. Mongolia’s traditions of communal governance, culture of deliberation, and dense social networks create social capital that supports democratic processes, while challenging the notion that strong top-down formal institutions are necessary for democracy. The thesis utilizes qualitative process tracing to analyze the environmental grassroots Ongi River Movement using the deliberative criteria of authenticity, inclusivity, and consequentiality. The thesis examines the period from 2001 to the present, tracing the Movement’s emergence and early deliberations at the start of the century, then analyzing its consequences that continue to unfold today. This study highlights the potential and constraints of participatory governance in Mongolia, contributing to a broader understanding of how political culture and institutional development interact in non- Western contexts. By rethinking Mongolia’s place in democratic theory, this thesis offers new insights into democratic development beyond Western models.