1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia
Encyclopedia
The 1990 Peaceful Democratic Revolution in Mongolia was a democratic revolution that started with hunger strike
s to overthrow the Mongolian People's Republic and eventually moved towards the democratic present day Mongolia
and the writing of the new constitution
. It was spearheaded by mostly younger people demonstrating on Sükhbaatar Square
in the capital Ulan Bator. It ended with the authoritarian government resigning without bloodshed. Some of the main organizers were Sanjaasürengiin Zorig
, Erdeniin Bat-Üül
, Bat-Erdeniin Batbayar, and Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. Indeed, the peaceful revolution revived the thousand years-old parliamentary tradition of Mongolia.
This was the beginning of the end of the 70-year period of socialism
in Mongolia
. Although a multi-party system was established, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
(MPRP) actually remained in power until 1996. Nevertheless, reforms were implemented and the transition to a market economy begun. The revolution was inspired by the reforms in the Soviet Union
, and by the similar revolutions in Eastern Europe in late 1989
.
in 1921. Over the following decades, Mongolia was always very closely aligned with the Soviet Union
, who in turn guaranteed Mongolia's independence from China
. After the ousting of Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal in 1984, and inspired by Mikhail Gorbachev
's reforms in the Soviet Union, the new leadership under Jambyn Batmönkh implemented economic reforms, but failed to appeal to those who, in late 1989, wanted broader changes.
and glasnost
. Dissident leaders demanded free elections and economic reform. On January 14, 1990, the protesters, having grown from two hundred to some 1,000, met at the Lenin Museum in Ulan Bator. A demonstration in Sükhbaatar Square
on Jan. 21 (in weather of -30 C) followed. After came weekend demonstrations in January and February and the forming of Mongolia's first opposition parties. On March 7, ten dissidents assembled in Sükhbaatar Square and went on a hunger strike. Thousands of supporters joined them. On March 9, the Communist MPRP government resigned. The new government announced Mongolia's first free parliamentary elections, which were to be held in July. Unrest also spread to the other industrial centers in Erdenet
and Darkhan, and to the province centers, notably Mörön in Khövsgöl.
The opposition parties failed to win a majority in the 1990 elections. There had been 430 seats in the Great Khural, and the opposition parties had been unable to nominate enough candidates - they mustered only 346. Also, the MPRP enjoyed a strong position in the countryside. Consequently, the MPRP won 357 seats in the Great and 31 (out of 53) in the small Khural. Nonetheless, the new MPRP government under D. Byambasüren
shared power with the democrats, and implemented constitutional and economic reforms. As these reforms coincided with the dissolution of the Soviet Union
, which had until 1990 provided significant economic aid to Mongolia's state budget, the country did experience harsh economic problems: enterprises closed down, inflation rose, and basic foodstuffs had to be rationed
for a time.
The first election win for the opposition was the presidential election of 1993
, when the opposition candidate P. Ochirbat won. In 1996, the opposition for the first time succeeded in winning the majority in the State Great Khural.
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
s to overthrow the Mongolian People's Republic and eventually moved towards the democratic present day Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and the writing of the new constitution
Constitution of Mongolia
Constitution of Mongolia is the constitution of Mongolia.It was adopted on January 13. 1992, put into force on February 12, and amended in 1999 and 2001. The new constitution established a parliamentary democracy in Mongolia, guaranteeing freedom of religion, rights, travel, expression,...
. It was spearheaded by mostly younger people demonstrating on Sükhbaatar Square
Sükhbaatar Square
Sükhbaatar Square is the central square of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It is named after and features a statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar, leader of Mongolia's 1921 revolution...
in the capital Ulan Bator. It ended with the authoritarian government resigning without bloodshed. Some of the main organizers were Sanjaasürengiin Zorig
Sanjaasürengiin Zorig
Zorig Sanjaasuren was a prominent Mongolian politician and leader of the country's 1990 democratic revolution. He was called the "Golden Magpie of Democracy". His murder remains unsolved...
, Erdeniin Bat-Üül
Erdeniin Bat-Üül
Erdeniin Bat-Üül is a prominent Mongolian politician from the Democratic Party.-Early life and career:E. Bat-Üül was born in Ulaanbaatar on July 1, 1957. His father was Sengiin Erdene, one of Mongolia's most well-known authors. In 1975 he completed Ulaanbaatar's High School No. 1, and in 1981 he...
, Bat-Erdeniin Batbayar, and Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. Indeed, the peaceful revolution revived the thousand years-old parliamentary tradition of Mongolia.
This was the beginning of the end of the 70-year period of socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
in Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. Although a multi-party system was established, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
The Mongolian People's Party formerly the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party is an ex-communist political party in Mongolia. The party is abbreviated MPP in English and ' in Mongolian...
(MPRP) actually remained in power until 1996. Nevertheless, reforms were implemented and the transition to a market economy begun. The revolution was inspired by the reforms in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and by the similar revolutions in Eastern Europe in late 1989
Revolutions of 1989
The Revolutions of 1989 were the revolutions which overthrew the communist regimes in various Central and Eastern European countries.The events began in Poland in 1989, and continued in Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and...
.
Background
The MPRP took power in MongoliaMongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
in 1921. Over the following decades, Mongolia was always very closely aligned with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, who in turn guaranteed Mongolia's independence from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. After the ousting of Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal in 1984, and inspired by Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
's reforms in the Soviet Union, the new leadership under Jambyn Batmönkh implemented economic reforms, but failed to appeal to those who, in late 1989, wanted broader changes.
Course of events
The first small-scale public protests occurred on December 10, 1989, in front of the Cultural Center for Youth. The protesters called for Mongolia to follow the Soviet Union and adopt perestroikaPerestroika
Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...
and glasnost
Glasnost
Glasnost was the policy of maximal publicity, openness, and transparency in the activities of all government institutions in the Soviet Union, together with freedom of information, introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the second half of the 1980s...
. Dissident leaders demanded free elections and economic reform. On January 14, 1990, the protesters, having grown from two hundred to some 1,000, met at the Lenin Museum in Ulan Bator. A demonstration in Sükhbaatar Square
Sükhbaatar Square
Sükhbaatar Square is the central square of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It is named after and features a statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar, leader of Mongolia's 1921 revolution...
on Jan. 21 (in weather of -30 C) followed. After came weekend demonstrations in January and February and the forming of Mongolia's first opposition parties. On March 7, ten dissidents assembled in Sükhbaatar Square and went on a hunger strike. Thousands of supporters joined them. On March 9, the Communist MPRP government resigned. The new government announced Mongolia's first free parliamentary elections, which were to be held in July. Unrest also spread to the other industrial centers in Erdenet
Erdenet
Erdenet is the third-largest city in Mongolia and the capital of the aimag of Orkhon.Located in the northern part of the country, it lies in a valley between the Selenge and Orkhon rivers about 150 miles northwest of Ulan Bator, the capital...
and Darkhan, and to the province centers, notably Mörön in Khövsgöl.
Aftermath
Dashiin Byambasüren
Dashiin Byambasüren is a former Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party politician who was Prime Minister of Mongolia from 11 September 1990 - 21 July 1992, as the first one to be appointed by a democratically elected parliament. He comes from a Buryat background...
shared power with the democrats, and implemented constitutional and economic reforms. As these reforms coincided with the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
, which had until 1990 provided significant economic aid to Mongolia's state budget, the country did experience harsh economic problems: enterprises closed down, inflation rose, and basic foodstuffs had to be rationed
Rationing
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services. Rationing controls the size of the ration, one's allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time.- In economics :...
for a time.
The first election win for the opposition was the presidential election of 1993
Mongolian presidential election, 1993
Presidential elections were held in Mongolia on 6 June 1993, the first time a president had been publicly elected. The result was a victory for Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat, who won 59.9% of the vote. Voter turnout was 92.7%.-Results:...
, when the opposition candidate P. Ochirbat won. In 1996, the opposition for the first time succeeded in winning the majority in the State Great Khural.