1st Edition

Truth, History and Politics in Mongolia Memory of Heroes

By Christopher Kaplonski Copyright 2004
    248 Pages
    by Routledge

    248 Pages
    by Routledge

    Using Mongolia as its example, this book examines how knowledge is transmitted and transformed in light of political change by looking at shifting conceptions of historical figures. It suggests that the reflection of people's concept of themselves is a much greater influence in the writing of history than has previously been thought and examines in detail how history was used to subvert the socialist project in Mongolia. This is the first study of the symbolic struggle over who controlled 'the past' and the 'true' identity of a Mongol, fought between the ruling party and its protesters during the democratic revolution.

    Preface  Acknowledgements  1. Politics, Memory and Identity  2. Ulaanbaatar, Fieldwork and Identity  3. Democracy comes to Mongolia  4. The Symbols of Democracy  5. The Icebergs of History  6. Chinggis Khaan: Creating the Uls  7. Defending and Regaining the Uls: Zanabazar and Sühbaatar  8. Social Memory and Evocative Transcripts  Glossary  Bibliography

    Biography

    Christopher Kaplonski, affiliated to the Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit at the University of Cambridge, has carried out extensive research in post-socialist Mongolia where he has worked since the early 1990s.