Deliberative Polling and Democratic Institutionalization in Mongolia: A Comparative Study of Four Cases (2015–2023)

Abstract

Mongolia adopted a new Constitution in 1992 with the goal of building a humane, civil, and democratic society in which citizens exercise state power directly and through elected representatives. The transition from socialism to democracy brought rapid political, economic, and socio-cultural change, while limited public awareness, restricted access to information, and weak institutional support constrained effective citizen participation. This study examines four deliberative polling cases conducted in Mongolia between 2015 and 2023 to analyze the institutional, procedural, and event-driven factors shaping the development and institutionalization of deliberative polling in public policymaking. Using comparative case analysis, qualitative review, stakeholder evaluation, and process tracing, the study investigates how deliberative polling has evolved during this period. Against this background, this study analyzes four deliberative polling cases conducted in Mongolia between 2015 and 2023. The research objective is to examine the institutional and procedural factors shaping the development and institutionalization of deliberative polling within public policymaking.  The findings show that Mongolia has established a relatively strong legal framework for citizen participation, particularly following the adoption of the Law on Deliberative Polling in 2017. However, the practical institutionalization of deliberative democracy remains incomplete. Key challenges include weak inter-agency coordination, limited transparency, inadequate access to information, and an underdeveloped culture of citizen deliberation. These factors have constrained the effective implementation of deliberative polling and limited its influence on policymaking. Despite these challenges, recent deliberative initiatives represent important progress toward strengthening informed citizen participation and improving the connection between public deliberation and policy decisions. The study concludes that stronger institutional coordination, better information quality, and a more developed deliberative culture are essential for embedding deliberative polling as a sustainable component of Mongolia’s democratic governance.