http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/world/asia/07scholar.html
Over the past 3 decades, China has been unable to keep its best and brightest of the scientific community from leaving. For the past decade alone, for every 4 students who have left, only 1 has returned. As a result, China is now exerting itself to reverse this trend, and it has had some successes, like the return of Dr. Shi Yiyong, a former researcher at Princeton, to China. The reason for their return is due to a combination of national pride, China's use of its financial resources, and the ability to shake things up in a system derided for its cronyism and mediocrity.
This blog is meant to be a space for the Austin College community to discuss issues related to China and the Chinese language. For author permissions, please write to Dr. Jennifer Thackston Johnson: jtj.at.ac –at- gmail.com. Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas.
As a child I was often told "Chinese people are Chinese people and we stick together". I feel that the main reason the scientists who have done well in the United States but still wish to go to China are following that belief. They feel a strong national and ethnic pride that transcends the pull of money.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure it is obvious to all why most Chinese intellectuals do not wish to return to the motherland. With censors and limits of human imagination and natural human curiosity, the Communist government of China has not been creating the perfect arena for intellectuals to voice their opinion. i find it highly commendable that even 1 out of 4 actually do return to China. Most leave for a better lives and that's what they find in other more liberal countries. I suppose I do agree with Caroline in this part. Perhaps the longing for the motherland and wishes for a better future in their own country really does lure Chinese back home.
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