This project studies the distribution of political knowledge of democracy in the Mongolian population. Mongolia is the second oldest communist nation, since 1924, and voted for a democratic constitution in 1992. Cognitive anthropology research strategies and tools will be used to determine the distribution pattern of concepts of democracy, and to learn the factors and mechanisms by which the distribution pattern was formed. Two sites will be studied, the provincial capital of Khovd and the government capital of Ulaanbaatar. Respondents in diverse demographic, cultural and social categories will be sampled to assess the relative importance of family, social networks and other factors in influencing the spread of political ideas. The project will increase our knowledge of Mongolia after a 70 year period of restricted access, will foster collaboration between Western and Mongolian social scientists, and provide policy makers in Mongolia and the USA with information about peoples' understanding and concerns about democracy.
