Mongolian Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the RAS: Current State and Prospects

Introduction. The paper briefly reviews the current state and prospects of Mongolian studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS) that celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2018. The Institute maintains and strengthens its positions as a leading national and global research center for Oriental studies. Goals. The study attempts at summarizing the Institute’s 2010–2020 experiences in developing Mongolian studies as a traditional branch of Russia’s Oriental studies, characterizing the present state and development prospects with due regard of actual achievements, challenges, and problems. Materials and Methods. The work analyzes scholarly publications authored by associates of the Mongolian Studies Unit (Department of Korean and Mongolian Studies) and other departments of the Institute in 2010–2020, including operating archives ― through the use of historical, chronological, descriptive, analytical and other methods. Results. The study shows that despite a number of objective and subjective difficulties, associates of the Institute keep developing Mongolian studies exploring some topical and understudied issues of ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary Mongolia; providing comprehensive insights into present-day political, socioeconomic, and cultural frameworks of Mongolia proper and Russia-Mongolia relations. Still, the Institute ― and specifically the Mongolian Studies Unit ― experiences a critical shortage of qualified young Mongolists, and if the problem remains unsolved respective research perspectives should encourage no optimism. The number of highly experienced Mongolists and Orientalists that conduct research activities on a range of Mongolia-related issues (history, historiography, source studies, discoveries and publications of new sources, written monuments and archives, philology, etc.) affiliated thereto is small enough. The former publish their scholarly works and actively cooperate with colleagues from similar scientific and educational organizations of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Elista, Kyzyl, Vladivostok and other Russian cities; establish relations with foreign humanities research centers of Mongolia, China, Japan, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, etc. Chronologically, the review covers the period between 2010 and 2020, and characterizes key changes in staff composition; shows fundamental research trends; summarizes outcomes of scholarly, organizational and publishing activities; mentions main joint and individual monographs authored (published) by associates of the Department of Korean and Mongolian Studies in 2010–2020. The paper specifies basic development problems faced by Mongolian studies in the context of Oriental studies as such, provides conclusions and prognoses for further evolution of this research line at the Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS).

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