Mongolian People's Republic

The Mongolian People's Republic was a socialist state that was founded in 1924 and lasted until 1992, however stopped being Marxist-Leninist in 1990.

History

Mongolia enjoyed the typical things associated with the Soviet model like higher literacy rates, lower infant mortality, etc. vs. comparable capitalist countries. However, they also suffered from the typical issues of the Soviet model, with growing stagnation, shortages, and so on. The later economic plans particularly suffered from this. Geography and climate were other issues, with endless plains, harsh winters, droughts, and crop failure exacerbating the economic problems. Mongolian leader Yumjagiin Tsedenbal became increasingly erratic and out-of-touch with growing economic issues in Mongolia and the political changes in the Communist world in general. He developed an unpopular personality cult, parading around with cartoonish quantities of medals, some adorned with diamonds. He also oversaw paranoid extensive purges, which continued into the 1980s. This was after the leading party, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, had (in line with Soviet de-Stalinization) criticized the personality cult and other excesses under previous leader Khorlogiy Choibalsan.

The Soviets wielded some power in Mongolia, with the extent depending on the decade. Of course it is not as simple as Mongolia was a lifeless puppet at the end of a string, but the Soviets did wield extensive power at times. They sanctioned (and possibly directed) various purges both during Tsedenbal and Choibalsan. Soviet soldiers were stationed there, and the USSR also gave Mongolia economic direction and helped them prepare and fulfill economic plans. When Soviet subsidies ended in 1992, there were massive shortages. Tsedenbal and particularly his Russian wife, Anastasia Filatova, were also very close to Brezhnev. It is said the wife unofficially played a key part in the direction of the country, and she also played a part in introducing Russian cultural elements to Mongolia. Filatova also seems to have engaged in some strange antics, including insulting politburo members and seemingly having questionable racial views about the Mongolians. All these things lead to questions about their impartiality, and anger over what was seen by some as the "Russification" of the country.

Among this there was the question of Genghis Khan, who was seen as a national hero by many Mongolians yet denounced by Soviet and Mongolian historians in accordance with Soviet historiography. At the same time the Sino-Soviet split was occurring, with the Mongolians decisively siding with the Soviets. Chinese historiography viewed Genghis Khan as a historically progressive figure, meaning that to challenge the official view of Genghis Khan meant one would be suspected of having pro-Chinese views. Politburo member and academic Daramyn Tömör-Ochir was purged in 1962, on the charge of being a nationalist, while overseeing celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the birth of Genghis Khan, following criticism (about Genghis Khan, not Tömör-Ochir specifically) in Pravda. This despite having been tasked to do it by the MPRP in a resolution signed by Tsedenbal and other key politburo members. Tömör-Ochir had visited China for medical reasons sometime between 1959 and 1962. There were also multiple foiled plots against Tsedenbal in 1959 and 1960. One theory about this is that Tsedenbal and/or the Soviets thought that Tömör-Ochir, who was well versed in Marxism and having initially impressed Tsedenbal, had pro-Chinese views and was a threat because of his qualities. Whether he actually had pro-Chinese views is uncertain, but he ended up being murdered with an axe in his apartment 23 years later in 1985, by unknown assailants.

By 1982, Soviet-Chinese relations were thawing, but Tsedenbal continued his anti-Chinese line, probably irritating Soviet leadership. He was deposed in 1984 at an extraordinary plenum of the MPRP. Officially because of "poor health", but really he made too many enemies. The purges had intensified inter-party conflict, and as recently as 1983 the vice-chair of the presidium of the People's Great Khural, the Mongolian equivalent of the Supreme Soviet, Sampilyn Jalan-aajav, had been purged by Tsedenbal. He was one of the top leaders of the country. According to an internal CIA report from the time, the deposal of Tsedenbal was most likely done with vested Soviet approval.

Mongolia now is a democracy, and the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, which is the country's oldest political party is still in power. However, it is now social democratic and uses the name "Mongolian People's Party". It wins elections much of the time. In 2010, a party was formed which used the name "Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party" since it was not used at that time; however, it too is social democratic.