VIU_Magazine_Summer_2017

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INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION Kazakh man in traditional clothing in the desert mountain of Western Mongolia. PHOTO CREDIT: ISARESCHEEWIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM FINDING INSPIRATION FROM MONGOLIA DR. ALICIA CAMPI Modern day Mongolia has a deep and rich history. The country is unique because it is a vibrant Asian democracy which has successfully embraced the free market and the globalized world, but retains its true nomadic traditions and culture. Nomadism is not dead there nor just a tourist attraction; herders living with their horses, goats, sheep, yak, and camels are a sizable minority with real political clout. 42 University Magazine, VIU Summer 2017
VIU.EDU Abundant with natural resources, Mongolia is creating their own modern day “Silk Road,” called the “One Belt One Road,” to boost economic benefits. At VIU’s 2016 Conference on Politics, Conflicts and Development, Dr. Alicia Campi presented on the country’s security strategy and why as a developing nation it is inspiring to watch them create the once vast empire grow once more. She writes: “2017 is the 30th year anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Mongolia. During these years, the Cold War ended and Mongolia became a democratic country which reconnected with Asia and then the world. The Mongols in the democratic era declared their nation a nuclear-free weapon zone, as well as rejected foreign military bases and military alliances. It has become adept at utilizing old and developing new national security stratagems to navigate its complex Eurasian continental environment. It developed a foreign policy strategy called the ‘Third Neighbor Policy’ after the collapse of communism in the 1990s, which was expected to protect its national interests by extending Mongolian ties to large developed democratic economies such as the U.S. and break the historical overwhelmingly dependent relations to its two giant border neighbors of China and Russia. However, in the last few years it has been forced to expand its ‘third neighbor’ definition to a more multi-pillar, Asian continental one that includes India, Turkey, Persian Gulf nations, Vietnam, and even Iran, in hopes of diversifying trade partners for its minerals and finding new sources of energy and consumer goods. Mongolia’s vast mineral resources, especially in coal, copper, gold, uranium, oil, and rare earth minerals, had an available market in rising China that could be reached without a modern transportation infrastructure or massive investment of FDI in downstream industries. However, this path to riches and development during the past 10 years only led to Chinese monopoly of Mongolia’s economy and exploding domestic concerns about how to Genghis Kahn, roughly translated to ‘universal ruler,’ was one of the world’s most formidable military leaders. During his time (1162-1227), he united the individual Mongol clans and ruled over the largest empire to ever exist around, 11 and 12 million contiguous square miles. The unification and expansion of the empire lead to some important advancements including the basis for the modern day postal system, religious freedom, and abolishing torture; but these advancements do not come without pitfalls. Kahn was known as a ruthless leader and used his vicious image as a way to spread terror into neighboring empires. Very little is actually known about the Mongol leader, and there are no portraits or sculptures to have ever survived. The account scholars do have, of the leader, are often contradictory; but most describe him as a tall man with strong features including long hair and a bushy beard. One account claims Kahn had red hair and green eyes- which may not have been unusual among the diverse Mongol people. preserve the country’s independence. Mongolia believes that through its own efforts to build trust among the nations in its region and by declaring itself a permanently neutral nation that will not endanger its border neighbors it can win China and Russia over to its policy of being an economical transit corridor for Sino-Russian trade. This would be an economic boon to all three nations, increase Eurasian integration, and strengthen regional frameworks for connectivity and national security. All of this dynamism is why Mongolia continues to be an inspiration to small, developing countries in the world, as well as to me and other researchers who study it.” Dr. Alicia Campi is one of the for-most experts on Mongolia; helping lead two years of preliminary negotiations which in turn led to formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Mongolia in 1987. For forty years she has been studying the history, culture, economics, and religion of Mongolia, a country far distant from the United States and her own family background. As an adolescent she found inspiration for this country through reading biographies of its most famous citizen, Chinggis Khan or Genghis Khan. “Mongolia and its people constantly amaze me and keep me interested after 40 years of study. The people are not typically Asian in mentality, nor just explained by 70 years of Sovietinfluence. They have lived between 2 great civilizations for centuries. Their experience of being the conquerors of the known world during the Mongol Empire 800 years ago still lives in their souls.” Summer 2017 University Magazine, VIU 43
Page 1 and 2: MAGAZINE ISSUE 8 JUST WHAT IS ASSES
Page 3 and 4: VIU.EDU Summer 2017 CONTENTS FEATUR
Page 5 and 6: WELCOME TO READERS VIU.EDU LETTER F
Page 7 and 8: CAMPUS NEWS VIU.EDU CAMPUS NEWS 12
Page 9 and 10: VIU.EDU Laina C. Lopez presents at
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Page 13 and 14: VIU.EDU VISITING SCHOLAR PROGRAM Du
Page 15 and 16: INDUSTRY INSIGHTS VIU.EDU INDUSTRY
Page 17 and 18: VIU.EDU The Right Path Finding the
Page 19 and 20: VIU.EDU saying things like “stupi
Page 21 and 22: VIU.EDU and other techniques. This
Page 23 and 24: VIU.EDU AT-A-GLANCE BY CHRISTINA KO
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Page 27 and 28: VIU.EDU “Many successful stories
Page 29 and 30: VIU.EDU BOT FUN FACTS • The avera
Page 31 and 32: VIU Alumni Association Plant the se
Page 34 and 35: INDUSTRY INSIGHTS Rebecca Yu is the
Page 36 and 37: INDUSTRY INSIGHTS Anastassiya Lapik
Page 38 and 39: INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION Love is..
Page 40 and 41: INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION IT ALL ST
Page 44 and 45: INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION Share you
Page 46 and 47: INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION Eager to
Page 48 and 49: INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION Koshary (
Page 50 and 51: THE WRITTEN WORD A Whole New Mind B
Page 52: Stay Connected with VIU. #GOVIU

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