The New Constitution of Mongolia and Social Transformation

In the latter half of the twentieth century, many countries that had previously been post-socialist states constitutionally entrenched development trajectories grounded in democratic values and principles. In doing so, they established systems of government broadly accepted by their populations, guaranteed citizens’ rights and freedoms, and began to create conditions conducive to peaceful lives and an improved quality of life for their people. Mongolia was not left behind in this process. The ideology, values, and principles enshrined in the new Constitution of Mongolia not only reflected global trends in the development of constitutionalism, but also laid the foundation through the profound social transformations that began in 1990 for the pursuit of a “humane, civil democratic society.” By establishing a system of governance based on constitutional principles, choosing a free-market economic order, and protecting and guaranteeing human rights and freedoms, Mongolia created the necessity to fundamentally transform and renew social values and legal relations. Along the path of this transformation and reform up to the present day, numerous developments marked by both progress and missteps have unfolded, while the country has continued to confront and overcome various challenges and difficulties. Although the new Constitution of Mongolia follows global constitutional trends, it is distinguished by its consideration of the country’s own unique characteristics.