The Contradiction between Outer Mongolia and the Communist International

Abstract

This paper examines the complex political contradictions between Outer Mongolia and the Communist International during the early 20th century, focusing on the cases of key Mongolian leaders Dogsom Baodao, Tseren-Ochir Dambadorj, and Danzeng. Following the 1917 Russian October Revolution, Soviet influence and Comintern intervention in Outer Mongolia fueled internal factional struggles within the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP). Leaders such as Baodao resisted direct Soviet control, advocated policies tailored to Mongolia’s social, economic, and religious conditions, and opposed the imposition of foreign revolutionary models, ultimately resulting in his framing and execution. Similarly, Dambadorj pursued national interests while negotiating with foreign powers, defended religious practices, and resisted Comintern factionalism, which led to his classification as a “rightist” and temporary political suppression. Danzeng, identified as part of the “rightist” faction, opposed Soviet expansion, sought diplomatic and economic ties with China and Japan, and promoted capitalist development, culminating in his arrest and execution during the Third Party Congress. These cases illustrate the tension between Mongolian national objectives and Soviet-Comintern policies, highlighting the intersection of domestic politics, foreign relations, and ideological control. The analysis demonstrates how the early Mongolian revolutionary period was marked by factional purges, political repression, and the struggle to balance national autonomy with external pressures, revealing the complex and often violent dynamics of Outer Mongolia’s political transformation.