Introduction

       INTRODUCTION
The Institute for Strategic Studies was established on February 1990 as a strategic studies center affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of Mongolia. Its objectives were to study the military-political and military-strategic environment around Mongolia, the factors that affect or could affect that environment, to produce strategic analytical reports on the country’s security and provide recommendations thereon, to undertake research and advocacy works to promote better public understanding of the defense issues of the country.

From the middle of 1990s the area of research was expanded to include studies on Mongolia’s over-all security environment and international defense cooperation so as to promote fuller understanding and implementation of the national security and foreign policy concepts as well as of the State military policy.

Vast changes are underway at the beginning of XXI century in international relations, in the external security environment of Mongolia as well as in the country itself, including in the national development policy as well as the prospects and challenges connected with the changes in the last years. These changes and transformations demand the expansion of the scope of scientific research work of the Institute and embrace other issues, including multilateral factors that affect economic, social, environmental and information security.

Bearing the above in mind in May 2006 the Government of Mongolia up-graded the Institute’s status to independent research arm of the National Security Council of Mongolia. With the change of the status, the basic areas of scientific research, its content and methodology are also being changed bringing it thus closer to the level of security and strategic study institutes of developed countries.

The Institute is keen on being rather Think-Tank institution.

       PRESENT SITUATION 

The Institute for Strategic Studies, an independent scientific research institution, is to study the general tendencies of world development and of Asia-Pacific interstate relations and cooperation, political, military-political and security developments, prospects of and challenges the policy of promoting and ensuring Mongolia’s national security, promote greater scientific methods in security studies, implement projects, organize theoretical and practical conferences and educational seminars, as well as provide recommendations on these issues.

The Institute for Strategic Studies is required to provide the National Security Council and other State organs and officials with relevant vital information and analysis, as well as the results and conclusions of its scientific and research works pertaining to national security.

       MISSION

The Mission of the Institute for Strategic Studies is to support Mongolia’s national security policy and activities by well grounded research and unbiased recommendations; and developing strategic studies in Mongolia.

       MAIN ACTIVITIES

Analyzing positive and negative factors that may affect regional and international relations, security cooperation and national security; supporting the national security policy by research and advice, and providing the National Security Council with timely information and policy recommendations.

       RESEARCH AREAS

-       Theory of international security, international law and history;

-       Foreign security developments and factors that may affect national security of Mongolia;

-       Challenges of the democratization and the constitutional institutions;

-       International military – strategic situation, cooperation in defense sector.

       PUBLICATIONS

The ISS’s publications include the following journals, digests and the monographs:

1. “Strategic Studies” – quarterly journal. The journal has been published since 1991, and addresses issues such as security, international relations, defense and strategic studies. The journal publishes articles written by scholars, professionals and researchers who work in these sectors.
2. “Regional Security Issues and Mongolia” – annual journal in English. It consists of translations of selected research articles, and important international conference proceedings of the year.
3. “International Situation and Mongolia”-annual security review. It comprises of observations and reviews of international and regional developments and external security dynamics that might affect national security of Mongolia.
4. Other material based on principle research directions and other researches are publicized for the use of policy makers and the public.

       COUNCIL ON FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY IN MONGOLIA

Council on Foreign and National Security Policy affiliated to the Institute for Strategic Studies, was founded on 15 April 2010, by the initiative of the President of Mongolia.

The Council carries out its activities on non-regular basis under the coordination of ISS. The activities of the Council include providing recommendations for the policy-makers on national security and foreign policy issues, organization of meetings and conferences, as well as the implementation of specific programs. The Council’s main goals include raising public awareness of security and foreign policies and supporting relevant government agencies and policy makers by advice and recommendation.

The Council is represented by Mongolia’s prominent scholars, diplomats, government officials and dignitaries, including the former President, Prime Minister, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Defense.

       INTERNATIONAL PARTNER INSTITUTION OF THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES

       DOMESTIC PARTNER INSTITUTES

In order to coordinate efforts related to academic and policy research in the area of Mongolian national security, the ISS has signed the “Memorandum of Cooperation” on 28 January 2011, with different national institutes.

The purpose of the cooperation is to ensure coordination among different institutes, with the focus on the security issues, exchange information and expertise, increase the role of the proposals and recommendations made by research institutes as well as their participation in the decision-making on the national security related issues, and to combine collective efforts.

Мемоrandum of Cooperation is signed by:

-       Institute of Defense Studies

-       School of Foreign Service, National University of Mongolia

-       International Institute for Nomadic Studies

-       Institute for Disaster Studies, National Emergency Management Agency

-       National Intelligence Academy

-       National Development institute

-       National Law Institute

-       Institute for International Studies, Academy of Science

-       Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Center