The demise of nomadic culture
The Mongols have lived with nomadic culture since the Hunnu Empire. For aeons the main livelihood of Mongolian nomads were their domestic animals. They would move two to four times a year, following the five domestic animals (horse, camel, sheep, goat, and cow) that they are adept at raising in the vast steppe, forests and Gobi desert. This was their way of life and the only one they knew, leading them to adopt somewhat naive and egocentric beliefs about the world and people in general. Today, more than a third of the Mongolian population lives in this fashion, which makes Mongolia the country with the highest proportion of nomadic residents.
In modern society the role of nomadic culture is largely agriculture. 42 percent of the Mongolian working force is devoted to agriculture and farming and its revenue accounts for 20.6 percent of the total GDP of Mongolia. There is limited potential in the development of agriculture due to the high altitude, extreme fluctuation in temperature, long winters, and low precipitation hence the sector remains heavily focused on nomadic animal husbandry with 75 percent of the land allocated to pasture, and cropping only employing 3 percent of the population. There are some who are sceptical towards the efficiency and potential of this sector for exportation and further development, but the policy makers are firm in their conviction to produce agricultural products necessary for domestic demands.
Mongolian literature, art and music is heavily influenced by nomadic culture. They are often about love for parents and nostalgia for the feeling of home, a longing for the place where one grew up.
On the surface, moving from place to place to see and experience new places, people, cultures, cuisines, sights and scenes may seem exiting and liberating; but its disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. It is like saying the “grass looks greener on the other side of the fence”.
Many tourists who come to visit Mongolia are particularly curious about the life of the nomads, believing it to be a fascinating aspect of Mongolian culture and a wonderful example of the many colours of life. And there is no doubt that the freedom on horsebacks and the mysterious wild aura exuded by nomads can be attractive and reminiscent of the old Wild West. But if you consider what this lifestyle would imply, the life of a nomad is often lonely and frustrating because they never stay in one place for long enough to have the support of friends. They are unable to have long friendships in one place and tend to lose contact over a period of time. Their access to education, medical care and other social services are extremely limited.
The repercussions and consequences of nomadic culture are hidden in plain sight today. Not many realise that this lifestyle is the reason for the lack of infrastructure, stability, industrialism, development of social care and structure and ultimately the lengthy stagnation of the economics in the past. When the majority of the people can’t establish stable communication it is difficult to grow as a whole.
The division of labour concept states that larger economies tend to have a larger division of labour, meaning the role and task of an individual in the economy is very small and specific. This way the individual is able to become more proficient at his work but not know the job and duties of other. This makes each individual very much dependent on others but at the same time they do not have to learn much to enjoy the fruits of other people’s labour. People in larger economies don’t need to learn about internal combustion engines to drive a car, or learn about artificial fabrics or sewing machines to wear clothes.
This concept has been reversed completely by the Mongolian nomadic culture. In nomadic culture, an individual is very much independent and does not have to rely on others to live. The nomads used to do everything from minimal household tasks to taking care of their livestock in harsh blistering winters. There is nothing wrong with this except that on a broader scale it has been proven to be far less efficient and costly to maintain this lifestyle. On a national scale, the economic development of a nation greatly depends on its efficiency of production. And many have realised that nomadic culture clearly isn’t the way forward.
This is the reason that many people from rural and provincial areas of Mongolia are moving to cities. Many herders have abandoned their old way of life and have moved to the city hoping to find a better life.
Thousands of students move to Ulaanbaatar each year to seeking education. All this migration and shift in paradigm has taken place largely in the last few decades causing much resistance from the older generation to conform to the newly introduced western culture.
Many are reluctant to accept the demise of the age long Mongolian nomadic culture. Nationalists will say that the nomadic culture is something to be proud of and should be preserved at all costs. They flaunt reasoning such as “we must preserve our heritage and the way of life of our forefathers” and “the Mongols have always lived as nomads and it’s in our blood and bone (genes).” The last one is a blind denial to accept change and the reasoning itself is not valid. What this implies is, living generation after generation in static paradigm, with no growth or progress. This is somewhat extreme but the changes are certain to come, and adaptation is necessary to keep up with the world, or even to lead its progress. We can maintain customs if they are practical and efficient but if a new more effective method and way of living should present itself isn’t it more reasonable to subscribe to it.
There have always been those who have reactionary negative attitudes towards progress because they are afraid or too lazy to change their ways. But since I believe in objective reality, in other words a reality not dependent upon perception, I think the only way to achievement, progress and development on all levels can only be reached when the perception of reality is congruent to reality. And reality is that the Mongolian nomadic culture is dying so that a better nation can be born.
In modern society the role of nomadic culture is largely agriculture. 42 percent of the Mongolian working force is devoted to agriculture and farming and its revenue accounts for 20.6 percent of the total GDP of Mongolia. There is limited potential in the development of agriculture due to the high altitude, extreme fluctuation in temperature, long winters, and low precipitation hence the sector remains heavily focused on nomadic animal husbandry with 75 percent of the land allocated to pasture, and cropping only employing 3 percent of the population. There are some who are sceptical towards the efficiency and potential of this sector for exportation and further development, but the policy makers are firm in their conviction to produce agricultural products necessary for domestic demands.
Mongolian literature, art and music is heavily influenced by nomadic culture. They are often about love for parents and nostalgia for the feeling of home, a longing for the place where one grew up.
On the surface, moving from place to place to see and experience new places, people, cultures, cuisines, sights and scenes may seem exiting and liberating; but its disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. It is like saying the “grass looks greener on the other side of the fence”.
Many tourists who come to visit Mongolia are particularly curious about the life of the nomads, believing it to be a fascinating aspect of Mongolian culture and a wonderful example of the many colours of life. And there is no doubt that the freedom on horsebacks and the mysterious wild aura exuded by nomads can be attractive and reminiscent of the old Wild West. But if you consider what this lifestyle would imply, the life of a nomad is often lonely and frustrating because they never stay in one place for long enough to have the support of friends. They are unable to have long friendships in one place and tend to lose contact over a period of time. Their access to education, medical care and other social services are extremely limited.
The repercussions and consequences of nomadic culture are hidden in plain sight today. Not many realise that this lifestyle is the reason for the lack of infrastructure, stability, industrialism, development of social care and structure and ultimately the lengthy stagnation of the economics in the past. When the majority of the people can’t establish stable communication it is difficult to grow as a whole.
The division of labour concept states that larger economies tend to have a larger division of labour, meaning the role and task of an individual in the economy is very small and specific. This way the individual is able to become more proficient at his work but not know the job and duties of other. This makes each individual very much dependent on others but at the same time they do not have to learn much to enjoy the fruits of other people’s labour. People in larger economies don’t need to learn about internal combustion engines to drive a car, or learn about artificial fabrics or sewing machines to wear clothes.
This concept has been reversed completely by the Mongolian nomadic culture. In nomadic culture, an individual is very much independent and does not have to rely on others to live. The nomads used to do everything from minimal household tasks to taking care of their livestock in harsh blistering winters. There is nothing wrong with this except that on a broader scale it has been proven to be far less efficient and costly to maintain this lifestyle. On a national scale, the economic development of a nation greatly depends on its efficiency of production. And many have realised that nomadic culture clearly isn’t the way forward.
This is the reason that many people from rural and provincial areas of Mongolia are moving to cities. Many herders have abandoned their old way of life and have moved to the city hoping to find a better life.
Thousands of students move to Ulaanbaatar each year to seeking education. All this migration and shift in paradigm has taken place largely in the last few decades causing much resistance from the older generation to conform to the newly introduced western culture.
Many are reluctant to accept the demise of the age long Mongolian nomadic culture. Nationalists will say that the nomadic culture is something to be proud of and should be preserved at all costs. They flaunt reasoning such as “we must preserve our heritage and the way of life of our forefathers” and “the Mongols have always lived as nomads and it’s in our blood and bone (genes).” The last one is a blind denial to accept change and the reasoning itself is not valid. What this implies is, living generation after generation in static paradigm, with no growth or progress. This is somewhat extreme but the changes are certain to come, and adaptation is necessary to keep up with the world, or even to lead its progress. We can maintain customs if they are practical and efficient but if a new more effective method and way of living should present itself isn’t it more reasonable to subscribe to it.
There have always been those who have reactionary negative attitudes towards progress because they are afraid or too lazy to change their ways. But since I believe in objective reality, in other words a reality not dependent upon perception, I think the only way to achievement, progress and development on all levels can only be reached when the perception of reality is congruent to reality. And reality is that the Mongolian nomadic culture is dying so that a better nation can be born.
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