Geopolitics Of Exporting Talent

Via Richard Florida's "twog", I clicked through to Parag Khanna’s TED talk. The idea of mitigating border conflict with infrastructure across those lines doesn't strike me as a novel approach to an old problem. However, the context of globalization makes for some compelling storytelling. That comes out in the part about the China strategy and the country's aggressive attempts to integrate the region under Chinese economic dominance.

The entire bit about China is worth your time, but the part that grabbed my attention is at the 7:55 mark with the map that details the demographic flows outward to other East Asian countries. This is China's talent export strategy. You want an economic link with a city? Send your best and brightest there.

As far as I know, China is the only place that funnels brain drain for purposes of economic development and geopolitical gain. India seems intrigued with this approach and now sees its talent as a trade asset. The labor mobility pact between India and Denmark is a good example. Denmark is aging and desperate for immigration. I'd like to know how India plans to cash in on such arrangements. Denmark strikes me more as a willing partner than a particularly advantageous one.