Cool! For context, Malengo is helping students from Uganda attend university in Germany, and it also has a program to support students from French-speaking African countries [link in French]. I’m excited about this program not only for its economic benefits, but also for its potential to enable more people to live in liberal democratic countries, and in the long term, increase support for liberal democracy around the globe.
As a quick reply, I’m wondering what evidence you have that education in democratic liberal countries increases support for liberal democracy accross the globe? There’s arguments for and against this thesis, but I don’t think there’s good evidence that it helps.
Many dictators in Africa for example were educated in top universities, which gave them better connections and influence which might have helped them oppress their people. Also during the 20ths centure a growing intelligent and motivated middle class seems correlated with higher chance of democracy. - its unclear whether highly skilled migration helps grow this middle class through increasing remittances and a growing economy, or removes the most capable people who could be starting businesses and making their home country a better place. Its worth noting that programs like this don’t just take high school graduates, they usually take the cream of the crop who were likely to do very well in their home conutry as well.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, just that its complicated and far from a slamdunk that this will increase support for liberal democracies.
Cool! For context, Malengo is helping students from Uganda attend university in Germany, and it also has a program to support students from French-speaking African countries [link in French]. I’m excited about this program not only for its economic benefits, but also for its potential to enable more people to live in liberal democratic countries, and in the long term, increase support for liberal democracy around the globe.
As a quick reply, I’m wondering what evidence you have that education in democratic liberal countries increases support for liberal democracy accross the globe? There’s arguments for and against this thesis, but I don’t think there’s good evidence that it helps.
Many dictators in Africa for example were educated in top universities, which gave them better connections and influence which might have helped them oppress their people. Also during the 20ths centure a growing intelligent and motivated middle class seems correlated with higher chance of democracy. - its unclear whether highly skilled migration helps grow this middle class through increasing remittances and a growing economy, or removes the most capable people who could be starting businesses and making their home country a better place. Its worth noting that programs like this don’t just take high school graduates, they usually take the cream of the crop who were likely to do very well in their home conutry as well.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, just that its complicated and far from a slamdunk that this will increase support for liberal democracies.