NATIONAL RESILIENCE: THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS, INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES, AND DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES IN MONGOLIA
Abstract
The contemporary international security environment is increasingly characterized by the coexistence of traditional and non-traditional security threats, including geopolitical competition, great-power rivalry, climate change, pandemics, cyberattacks, disruptions to energy and food security, and vulnerabilities in global supply chains. These interconnected risks have demonstrated that national security can no longer be understood solely in terms of military capabilities or the preparedness of state institutions. Instead, states must develop the capacity to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, recover from, and transform in response to complex and multidimensional crises. This study examines the theoretical foundations of national resilience, reviews major international approaches to resilience-building, and explores their implications for Mongolia. Drawing upon a qualitative research design that combines literature review, comparative analysis, and policy analysis, the study examines national resilience as a multidimensional concept encompassing national security, governance, economic stability, social cohesion, critical infrastructure, public participation, and cross-sectoral cooperation. The study argues that national resilience should be understood as a continuous process that extends beyond post-crisis recovery to include preparedness before crises, resistance during crises, adaptive recovery after crises, and long-term sustainable development. It further contends that strengthening national resilience requires an integrated governance approach that coordinates government institutions, the private sector, civil society, and citizens in managing increasingly complex security challenges. The findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of national resilience and provide policy recommendations for strengthening Mongolia's national resilience within an evolving international security environment.