Colonization and decolonization of knowledge on nomadism and the Cultural Revolution in Mongolia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67086/nsj.32.40Keywords:
Colonialism, Cultural evolution, Mongolia, Cultural revolutionAbstract
This article examines how Western social evolutionary theories, scientific racism, and social Darwinism operated as colonial knowledge to marginalize Mongol nomads, labeling them as primitive or idiotic. It details how the Soviet-sponsored communist regime in Mongolia internalized this paradigm to justify the 'cultural campaigns' (soyolyn dovtolgoon) of the mid-twentieth century, which sought to eliminate nomadic traditions in the name of progress. The paper highlights the intellectual resistance led by prominent Mongolian scholars -- including Ts. Damdinsüren, B. Rinchen, Kh. Perlee, and N. Ishjamts -- who challenged these Eurocentric biases. By conceptualizing 'nomadic civilization' and securing international recognition through UNESCO, these academics initiated a crucial decolonization of knowledge. The study concludes that while these efforts successfully reclaimed cultural agency, overcoming the legacy of internalized coloniality remains an ongoing challenge in contemporary Mongolia.References
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