KIAKHTA TO VLADIVOSTOK
Sandwiched between Russia and China, Mongolia has the distinction of sharing the largest chain of frontiers between these two powerful neighbors. Mongolia's geostrategic and landlocked position attracted both the Tsarist/Soviet Russia and China to influence the socio-economic and political history as well as international relations of Mongolia. Finally it was the Treaty of Kiakhta (1728) which fixed the Russo-Mongolian (then part of China) frontier. However, the whole span of nineteenth century saw Russians strengthening their position in Mongolia. With the Tsarist Russian support Mongolia declared its independence from China in 1911 and later with Soviet Russia's support established the Mongolian People's government in 1921. Since then Mongolia found itself totally dependent on the former Soviet Union on all fronts - political, military, economic and cultural domains. It was Gorbachev's Viadivostok initiative of 1986 that marked the beginning of a new era in Mongolia's contemporary political history. The book analyses not only the historical roots of Mongolia-Russia relations but examines in detail the extent and pattern of the whole gamut of their relations both during the Tsarist Russian as well as the Soviet period. While dealing with the rise of Pan-Mongolism the book throws fresh light on Tsarist Russian and Soviet diplomatic maneuvers to prevent the emergence of a United Mongolia. The Book also delves into the aftermath of the Viadivostok initiative, the evergence of new geo-political situation, its impact on Mongolia's domestic and foreign pollicies, and new trends in the Russo- Mongolian relations in the post-cold war era.
Dr. Sharad K Soni obtained his M.Phil and Ph.D degrees from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has specialised in Mongolian Studies and has written extensively on this area. His publications include Reign of Terror in Mongolia, 1920-90 (Co-author) (New Delhi,1992) Mongolia between China and Russia, An Historical Overview (MAKAIAS, Calcutta, 2000): and several research papers on Mongolia and Central Asia. Presently, a project fellow at the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata, Dr. Soni has participated and presented papers in various national and international seminars including International Congress of Monologists (1995). Besides, he is Assistant Editor of Himalayan and Central Asian Studies, a quarterly journal, since its very inception in 1997.
Contents - Perface, Histrorical Perspective, Soviet Russia and Mongolia's Independence Movement, Pan-Mongolism : Russia and Soviet Response, Political Ties, Military Linkages, Economic Dependence, Soviet Impact on Mongolia's Society and Culture, Vladivstok Initiative and Mongolia in the Post cold war Era.