Ulaanbaatar, January 24, 2024 /MONTSAME/. Dr. Oliver Corff, a German Mongolist, delivered a presentation on "Reading Constitutions as Sources of Intellectual History: 100 Years of Constitutions in Mongolia" at the Mongolian Society, Economy, Politics, and Legal Studies section of the 12th International Congress of Mongolists. In an interview with a MONTSAME Mongolian National News Agency, Dr. Corff shared his thoughts on his research and Mongol studies.

- There are probably not many foreign Mongolists who have delved into the Constitution of Mongolia. Why did you choose this topic?

- Back in February 1992, while I was studying in Mongolia, the new Constitution was approved. That was the time when the country changed its name from the People's Republic of Mongolia to Mongolia. Engaging in discussions about the new Constitution, I was struck by the preamble, which notably outlined Mongolia's independence and the human rights and freedoms of its citizens. Inspired, I embarked on the translation of the new Constitution from Mongolian to German, initiating the work in 1992-1993, but I could not find a publisher to print it.

When I read 2-3 books on the old Constitution of Mongolia, which I had bought in a secondhand book shop after returning to Mongolia, I was struck by the stark contrast between the old and the new Constitutions. This marked the beginning of my exploration into the history of our Constitution. The initial Constitution of Mongolia was crafted in 1924, followed by the approval of the second Constitution in 1940. However, the 1940s saw numerous amendments, leading to an expansion of the second Constitution to 108 articles by 1957. The third Constitution, introduced in the 1960s, witnessed an influx of terms associated with socialism—perhaps influenced by close friendship with the USSR during that era.

I have had this ambition for the past 15 years to publish a comprehensive compilation of Mongolia's Constitutions spanning from 1924 to 1992, complete with explanations in both Mongolian and German languages.

The new Constitution adopted by the Mongolians in 1992 is already 30 years old. It's opportune to engage in discussions and evaluations to ascertain its utility and suitability for the people. Notably, the contrast between the socialist-era Constitution and the current one is substantial. The Constitutions from 1924 to 1960 were crafted in the Soviet mold, implying they were not authentically written or edited by Mongolians.

- I intended to ask you a question related to that. It has been mentioned that when drafting the new Constitution in 1992, the working group studied Constitutions of some 200 countries, one of which was the German Constitution. What is your opinion about it?

- Indeed, some concepts were borrowed from the German Constitution. However, it's important to note that the new Constitution is a genuine Mongolian legal document crafted by Mongolians themselves. Those elements inspired by Germany, I believe, have played a role in benefiting your country and its citizens. Another noteworthy distinction is that during the drafting process in 1991, an academic group was formed, comprising international legal experts, including experts from Germany. This collaborative effort stands in stark contrast to the Soviet era when the Constitution was dictated with a direct mandate of "your Constitution should be like this.”

- You must have read and made a comparison between the Constitution of Germany and the new Constitution of Mongolia, adopted in 1992.

- Of course. I would like to point out that these two legal frameworks differ significantly, especially when it comes to aspects like the parliamentary system and the powers vested in the President and Prime Minister. Interestingly, both Constitutions emphasize human rights and freedom. Considering the distinct histories of Germany and Mongolia, it's noteworthy how the 1992 Constitution of Mongolia explicitly outlines the relationship between citizens and the state. In the socialist era, the law referred to people as citizens, whereas now it specifies the connection between citizens and the state. Let's take the example of issues concerning the rights and freedom of citizens. For example, the Constitutions before 1992 stated that the citizens should not work more than 8 hours. Such things should be reflected in the employment contract signed with the organization you work for. In general, there is no need to include such detailed provisions in the Constitution.

- So, as someone deeply involved in Mongol studies, I'm curious to hear about your experiences. You're the first German scholar to work at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS) since 1990, right?

- Yes. The first time I set foot in Mongolia was in 1981. But I lived and worked in Mongolia since 1991. At that time, I was engaged in a project focused on developing a computer program for the traditional Mongol Script at the Institute of Linguistics of MAS. During this time, we also collaborated on a plan for creating a Mongolian language dictionary with the research team at the Institute of Linguistics. In the mid-1990s, I conducted lectures on programming Mongol Script to Cyrillic Script at MAS. Additionally, I began the publication of the previously unpublished "Dictionary of the Qing Dynasty" or the "Dictionary of Manchu Words Written by the Emperor in Five Languages" (commonly known as "Dictionary of Five Languages") from 1794. It is a dictionary of Manchu, Tibetan, Chinese, Mongolian, and Tsagaadai languages with 18671 words.

- You have been working in Mongol studies since 1991. How is Mongol studies developing in the world?

- It is evolving, but there are not many Mongolists worldwide, including in countries like Germany, France, and the US. It is related to geopolitical policy. The funding often depends on geopolitics. Mongol Studies was more popular in East Germany when our country was divided into two. Walter Heissig was a prominent Mongolist from West Germany. There are some students of him, who study Mongolian history. Walther Heissig established the Permanent International Altaistic Conference (PIAC) and served as its Secretary General. I have been appointed PIAC Secretary General this year. Incidentally, PIAC was first established in 1957 and its regular meeting was recently held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

- You must have participated in most of the previous International Congresses of Mongolists. How is this congress different from previous meetings?

- My first participation in the International Congress of Mongolists was the one held in 1992. Since then, I have participated in several congresses. In my opinion, there is no significant difference. Of course, there are changes. Notably, there's a growing participation of foreign scholars, and the congress has expanded its international reach. In my opinion, this congress is an important event organized by Mongolia on the international stage. Mongol studies and academic works will notably contribute to Mongolia's soft power policy. Therefore, I think it would be very beneficial for Mongolia to continue to organize this congress every 5-6 years.

- Are young Mongolists emerging abroad?

- Yes, they are. A few years ago, there were few young Mongolists in Germany, but recently the number has been increasing. There has been a significant increase in foreign scholars in foreign scholars who excel in Mongolian and are actively engaged in academic research. I must say, while listening to the presentations about their works, I found their research works impressive.