No 6 (2025)

This article analyzes the long and, in many ways, unique reign of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP), which has held power, with only a few interruptions, for nearly seven decades since its founding in 1955. It examines the institutional, social, and economic mechanisms that have enabled the party to maintain its leading position in the country's political system. These include the LDP's ability to adapt to changing conditions, skillfully combining traditional values with pragmatic approaches to governance, as well as its effective interaction with the bureaucracy, big business, and regional elites. It examines how the party's internal organization, the presence of stable factions, and the distribution of resources within it ensure stability and controllability of political processes. It also emphasizes that such dominance does not guarantee perpetual power: demographic changes, an aging society, declining trust among young people in traditional parties, and intensifying political competition create new risks. The article concludes that the LDP's future development will largely depend on its readiness for internal transformation and openness to new ideas. Rethinking traditional governance approaches, implementing structural reforms, and strengthening government transparency measures can not only renew the political system but also strengthen public trust. Amid growing international instability and technological change, the LDP must find a balance between maintaining continuity and adapting. The success of these efforts will determine whether the party can maintain its leading position, ensuring sustainable development and political modernization in Japan in the 21st century.

Mongolia is a landlocked country in the center of Asia, sandwiched between Russia and China. Its geographical location makes it dependent on its neighbors in many ways. Therefore, Mongolia faces a particularly acute challenge, compared to other small states, of maintaining a balance in relations with neighboring powers and third countries without compromising its sovereignty or limiting its economic development. The paper presents the results of an analysis of the practical implementation of Mongolia's multi-vector foreign economic policy. It is emphasized that in the early 1990s, Mongolia was forced to seek assistance from Western countries, which became its key development partners. The mining boom of the 2000s, along with rapid economic growth, led to dependence on mineral exports to China and the strengthening of foreign companies as major investors. Mongolia's decision to maintain control over key sectors of the economy caused a collapse in the inflow of foreign investment. Together with the attraction of loans on the international debt market in the context of falling world prices for minerals, this led to the 2016 crisis. Nevertheless, key partners helped Mongolia avoid default on its sovereign debt. Moreover, the recession during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic recovery confirmed that Mongolia has no alternative to a policy of multi-vector foreign economic cooperation, in which China remains the main sales market, and Western partners are key creditors. In relations with Russia, Mongolia seeks to eliminate dependence on imported Russian oil products, conclude a free trade agreement and participate in plans to build transit infrastructure to China.