The Change And Development Of The New Balhu Mongolian Community

The Shinn Barg Tribe is one of the most important tribes in Mongolian society. It has a nomadic lifestyle which is unique, with its peculiar characteristics developed over many centuries. Their way of life is built upon the science of healthy utilization of grassland pasture and thus ensuring a harmonious relationship with nature.Relatively little academic fieldwork has been conducted on the Shinn Barg Mongolians, be it in Mongolia or in Inner Mongolia, China and in other foreign countries. In the light of this fact, this doctoral dissertation seeks to shed a light general on the way of life and culture of Shinn Barg Mongolians herding and roving in the vast grassland pasture, as I had observed during my fieldwork and research.The objective of this doctoral dissertation is to provide an account on the Shinn Barg Mongolian Tribe, who are today scattered across China and Mongolia, since the middle of 1940s' The two primary locations of the fieldwork were chosen based on the size of the population of Shinn Barg Mongolian in China and Mongolia.The doctoral dissertation also carried out a detail study, analysis, and investigation on the main factors affecting social transitions and changes in these two Shinn Barg communities located in today's Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, China. This transition has permeated every aspect of the two communities, in the areas of socio-economic system, lifestyle, work style, kinship, marriage and religion.I had undertaken eight major fieldwork trips in Mongolia and China, spanning four seasons with herders, living in Yurts-studying their modes of life throughout the all four seasons to gather important information. I also collected information from the local government in each and every locality.Sociological and anthropological theory is crucial to the fieldwork especially after gathering data and statistics. Functionalism, community study and social changes theory had been immensely instrumental in leading me to comprehend the context of the data I have collected-thereby helping me to construct the great significance out of the trivial things in their nomadic way of life.Shinn Barg Mongolian Tribe, who are also scattered in the contemporary China, too experienced several important historical phases. They had undergone many upheavals during the Pre-liberation Period, the Great Leap, the People's Communes, the Cultural Revolution and Opening of the Reform Period.Similarly, those of the Shinn Barg tribe living in the contemporary Mongolian region of Dornod Aimag also experienced dual transition in the manner of the shift from the Command Economy to Market Economy as well as the shift from the rule of One-Party control to the Democratic system of governance. These two political and economy factors have caused social transitions and changes in the two Shinn Barg Mongolian communities.Poverty and social stratification are new phenomena in these two communities. Indeed, the poverty and social stratification have been partly caused by the transition strategy and its implementation. In the world of market economy and fierce competition, the Shinn Barg Mongolian living both in Mongolia and China are disadvantaged due to lack of a visible economic thrust engine, modern education and infrastructure. Under such circumstances, they are unable to compete with the rest of the world. This is the most serious socio-economic crisis confronted by the government to remove economic hurdles, improve the level of education and motivate the herders to adapt according to the global economy. In recent years, the environment in these two communities has undergone major decline and degeneration since the attention to these long-standing issues have not been focused on by the respective governments. The rich natural resources are over exploited and mined, leading to serious environmental degradation with extensive ramifications.Despite these problems, many profound and positive changes have also taken place in these two communities, although in small size compare to the actual size of the population.The way forward for Shinn Barg Mongolian in the two communities is to keep their splendid culture and cultivate diligence, to shake off its laid back culture. The two local governments should provide enough financial supports, to tap various other sources of aid. And the most important for Shinn Barg Mongolian is that they have to adapt to the pace of the modern world and keep their own culture as a unique one in the world.