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Imo they are ideologically strengthened for historical reasons. You can't grab pieces of the world for two centuries and subvert democratically elected governme

Imo they are ideologically strengthened for historical reasons. You can't grab pieces of the world for two centuries and subvert democratically elected governments with military dictatorships that are favorable to you and then once a strong contender appears tell them its the 21st century now and not how things are done anymore. They aren't stupid and they know that might makes right. China is on an upswing trajectory and their people know it from increases in real income for vast majority of the population. It was the strongest country in the world for centuries, and they'll regain that title again, eventually. Russia lost too much brainpower in the past 25 years. Too many Russians and Russian Jews emigrated to US to use their PhDs to make money on Wall St. They're not coming back, and it will take another 25 years to grow a new generation of minds to lead Russia. Yes, Chinese students go to foreign universities but in general China doesn't have a brain drain problem, and thats why they'll win.

douche 10y ago
They're on the upswing until the bubble pops, anyway. They've got some demographic issues coming down the pike at them, as well. I hope things don't deteriorate into massive bloodshed and revolt when the music stops and the economy backslides, but that's what has tended to happen in the past, and Chinese history is more cyclical than most...
- googletazer 10y ago
  And they're very proactive in handling their issues. I do agree with you that history moves into cycles - some of the most most powerful entities that were at least in part democracies (athens, poland, etc..) were bested by absolutist regimes , which afterwards were overcome by democracies themselves. Top-down approach doesn't always work, but did wonders for them for the past 30 years. Meanwhile members of the British working class have voted for Brexit to protect their interests (good for them), and US might follow soon with Trump. How confident were they in things getting better compared with the Chinese?
idra 10y ago
> China doesn't have a brain drain problem Oh really? China has a disastrous brain drain problem. http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21701651-chinas-brightest-and-wealthiest-are-leaving-country-droves-long-march-abroad http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21701651-chinas...
- googletazer 10y ago
  The causes are different though. What you've linked mentions it quite clearly the wealthy are emigrating to to weather any potential storms related to seizure of their assets. A lot of foreign students belong to this category as well, otherwise they would not be able to afford foreign tuition. This isn't your middle class emigrating abroad as has happened with Russia.

douche 10y ago

They're on the upswing until the bubble pops, anyway. They've got some demographic issues coming down the pike at them, as well. I hope things don't deteriorate into massive bloodshed and revolt when the music stops and the economy backslides, but that's what has tended to happen in the past, and Chinese history is more cyclical than most...

googletazer 10y ago
And they're very proactive in handling their issues. I do agree with you that history moves into cycles - some of the most most powerful entities that were at least in part democracies (athens, poland, etc..) were bested by absolutist regimes , which afterwards were overcome by democracies themselves. Top-down approach doesn't always work, but did wonders for them for the past 30 years. Meanwhile members of the British working class have voted for Brexit to protect their interests (good for them), and US might follow soon with Trump. How confident were they in things getting better compared with the Chinese?

idra 10y ago

> China doesn't have a brain drain problem Oh really? China has a disastrous brain drain problem. http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21701651-chinas-brightest-and-wealthiest-are-leaving-country-droves-long-march-abroad http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21701651-chinas...

googletazer 10y ago
The causes are different though. What you've linked mentions it quite clearly the wealthy are emigrating to to weather any potential storms related to seizure of their assets. A lot of foreign students belong to this category as well, otherwise they would not be able to afford foreign tuition. This isn't your middle class emigrating abroad as has happened with Russia.