Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on the ability to master emotional outbursts in a Mongolian political landscape which is widely considered as shadowy and opaque. I will explore how a morality honoring power and vitalistic virtues, referred to as a wolf desire is shaping new forms of political agency in Mongolia

Paper long abstract:

This paper focuses on the ability to master emotional outbursts in a Mongolian political landscape defined by transition and uncertainty. I will explore how aggressive acts called Agsan is affected and shaped by a morality honoring power and vitalistic virtues in Mongolia. Agsan is an emotional act during which a person is said to lose control over their Sülde Hiimori (potency, vitality) and give in to their buun har yum or dev (inner darknesss, bad energy) where, mainly men will give into emotional outbursts either crying or aggressively attack their surroundings. I wish to argue that these aggressive outbursts are not only a question of drunk men being uncontrollably frustrated in a post- socialist setting, but that Agsan is the destructive side of what people would refer to as "choniin husel" (desire of the wolf)' an emotional shadow side everyone possess. A shadow side which also holds a reverse; a creative potential which can be harnessed and used for productive purposes such as doing and acting in a political landscape which is widely considered as shadowy and opaque itself. Politicians who are said to master their shadows are referred to as wolves feared and admired for their ability to use their aggressive power to "eat" everyone who threatens their position in politics and in society.

The question explored is, what does it take to master one's shadow-side and what kind of morality does its mastery entail?