Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: There exists a widespread perception that the recurrent and cascading episodes of ethnic cleansing witnessed in the Balkans in the 1990s represented something new and novel. However, the uncomfortable fact is that both states and non-state actors have long utilized population displacement as a tactical weapon against their adversaries. In the context of counter-insurgency operations, states have been particularly prone to use “regroupment camps” or “strategic hamlets” in order to—in Mao’s terms—“drain the sea” of water (civilians) to expose and kill the fish (guerrillas). Nevertheless, despite the frequency of its employment, the historical evidence on the efficacy of regroupment as a tactical weapon in counterinsurgency operations is mixed at best. In fact, evidence suggests that—except under a very circumscribed set of conditions—the long-term political and military costs of using population regroupment as a tool of counter-insurgency tend to outweigh the short-term military benefits. In fact, while there have been some noteworthy relocation successes—e.g., the British in Malaya in the q950s—more often than not, population relocation schemes actually backfire, galvanizing support for insurgents rather than their opponents.

Drawing upon existing literatures on social revolutions, foreign policy decision-making, and behavioral psychology—as well as evidence from myriad counterinsurgency operations since the start of the 20th century—this paper offers two sets of hypotheses. One set seeks to explain why population relocation remains a common feature of counter-insurgency operations, despite its problematic track record. A second set proposes an explanation as to why—and under what conditions—population relocation schemes will succeed or fail in their objectives. Historical cases examined include the Boer War, the Malaya Emergency, the Mau Mau Revolt, the Huk Rebellion, the French-Algerian War, the Vietnam War, and the wars for Angola and Mozambique. More contemporary cases are also examined, including recent or ongoing civil conflicts in Guatemala, Burundi, and Kurdistan.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The recent period is marked by the growing multi-faceted association between the processes of globalization and highly skilled migration. The rapid growth of the highly skilled migration, in particular that of scientists and engineers, mirrors the expansion of the science intensive and high-tech sectors of the national economies, the evolving division of labor, and the fragmentation of the world (even though the latter may sound strange). The scale, direction, and structure of migration flows are very important both for the donor and for the recipient countries. Highly skilled migration, and first of all the migration of researchers and college faculty, has been a key issue for Russia in the last ten years. Although all the researchers and politicians dealing with this issue are unanimous in their characterization of the brain drain as a negative phenomenon for the Russian state and society, there exists a considerable diversity of opinions about the scale and consequences of highly skilled migration for Russia. Another question under discussion is whether Russia still has a critical intellectual potential to change the situation and to benefit from the brain exchange in a globalizing world. Considering the vital importance of the intellectual potential in a post-industrial global society, the paper discusses the possible policies aimed at the development and preservation of Russia's intellectual R&D potential.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The recent period is marked by the growing multi-faceted association between the processes of globalization and highly skilled migration. The rapid growth of the highly skilled migration, in particular that of scientists and engineers, mirrors the expansion of the science intensive and high-tech sectors of the national economies, the evolving division of labor, and the fragmentation of the world (even though the latter may sound strange). The scale, direction, and structure of migration flows are very important both for the donor and for the recipient countries. Highly skilled migration, and first of all the migration of researchers and college faculty, has been a key issue for Russia in the last ten years. Although all the researchers and politicians dealing with this issue are unanimous in their characterization of the brain drain as a negative phenomenon for the Russian state and society, there exists a considerable diversity of opinions about the scale and consequences of highly skilled migration for Russia. Another question under discussion is whether Russia still has a critical intellectual potential to change the situation and to benefit from the brain exchange in a globalizing world. Considering the vital importance of the intellectual potential in a post-industrial global society, the paper discusses the possible policies aimed at the development and preservation of Russia's intellectual R&D potential.

Publication Type: Poster
Abstract: Increasing levels of skilled migration from less-developed to developed countries has been driven by a variety of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors including an emerging consensus among intergovernmental organizations (World Bank, IMF, regional development banks) that such migration is efficiency and welfare enhancing for both sending and receiving countries. This is paradoxically occurring as scholars are increasingly recognizing the necessity of human capital formation and public health infrastructure for sustainable development. While large developing countries such as India and Brazil seem to be able to benefit, on balance, from this form of migration (through remittances, ‘brain gain,’ and return migration) smaller countries have witnessed levels of skilled emigration that seriously undermine the possibility of sustainable development. A particularly consequential form of emigration from developing countries is that of skilled medical workers (physicians, nurses, technicians). This paper presents evidence that demonstrates medical migration is increasingly a crisis for many less-developed countries and critically surveys a variety of policy proposals designed to mitigate the problem of medical migration. The paper pays particular attention to the possibility of recruiting, training, and funding ‘community health workers’ as an innovative policy response that is not dependent on highly-trained medical personnel. Given the demographic changes in OECD countries that will likely greatly exacerbate what is already an unsustainable process, the paper concludes with a call for more research on this understudied and under-theorized issue area.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Existing studies on Canada’s brain drain have established the importance of income gains as a critical factor that motivates individuals to move to the United States. It remains unclear, however, how sizable the earnings gap may be for recent postsecondary graduates and whether or not this gap varies by the field of study of the most common drainers. Drawing on the most recent National Graduates Survey (NGS), this study compares the early labour market earnings of the 2000 cohort of university graduates who remained in Canada to their counterparts who obtained employment in the United States. Our results indicate that only a small proportion of this cohort migrated south of the border, yet the great majority of these migrants are heavily concentrated in only a few knowledge-economy fields. Annual earnings were significantly higher for all individuals who relocated to the U.S. Moreover, these differences were most salient among undergraduate engineers and computer scientists.