> The same mechanism - if real - should apply in China as well. Yeah, I think it's realistic to expect growing wealth to affect the political landscape. I gue

> The same mechanism - if real - should apply in China as well. Yeah, I think it's realistic to expect growing wealth to affect the political landscape. I guess my point is that self-imposed political reform is a choice few governments make willingly. OP was suggesting that the soon-to-be dominant world power would choose self-imposed political reform with the specific objective of attracting more overseas students. To me that seems like choosing to cut off your arm rather than trim your fingernails.