The Foreign Service Journal, April 2013

the Foreign Service journal | april 2013 59 tion. Later this year, Cornell University Press plans to publish his book, Peacebuilding in Practice: Local Experience in Two Bosnian Towns . Opening Our Doors The Immigrant Exodus: Why America Is Losing the Global Race to Capture Entrepreneurial Talent Vivek Wadhwa, Wharton Digital Press, 2012, $15.99/paperback, $5.38/Kindle Edition, 106 pages. Reviewed by Josh Glazeroff What is the American dream today? And whence comes our success? Many would say it all comes back to our being a nation of immigrants. But does it matter who those immigrants are? In The Immigrant Exodus, Vivek Wadhwa—who teaches at Stanford, Duke and Emory, among other universities— urges Americans to overhaul our immigration policies to keep our country great. As competitors in a global marketplace, we need to stack up the talent on our side, or we are going to lose. This short but thoughtful book is packed with insights into the impact of people flowing across our nation’s borders. Given the fact the world is becoming ever “smaller” (or “flatter,” if you prefer), it is in our national interest to entice the world’s best and brightest to come here, then stay and contribute to the U.S. economy. But is our country still an attractive destination? Wadhwa spells out the challenges prospective immigrants face to attain status as permanent residents. These are especially daunting for those who would like to build startups here, a process for which U.S. law offers almost no way to acquire a green card. What will those individuals do instead? Take advantage of opportunities elsewhere, of course. China and India are home to many of these entrepreneurs, but now Chile also offers them funding and an easy path to an immigrant visa. The numerical limits on most visa categories, particularly for those who are skilled workers, are hobbling our econ- omy. This is despite the fact that import- ing well-educated foreigners imme- diately produces taxpayers who shop, buy homes and invest—not to mention the economic benefits their businesses confer. As Wadhwa comments, U.S. immigration policy looks back to a different era, when we focused on family reuni- fication. It is high time to revisit that approach. Historically, Ameri- cans have encouraged anyone with new ideas to bring them to fruition in the U.S. market- place. Such innovation turned compa- nies like Apple, Google and Facebook into global powerhouses. Conversely, if U.S.-based companies are prevented from hiring great foreign employees, or their founders cannot come in and stay here, then we are destroying our own base of future growth. Wadhwa makes a strong case that our visa policy could mean as much to us as our global defense deterrent. By encour- aging every nation’s brightest scholars and scientists to come study, work or do exchanges in the United States, we build a base of understanding and good will for the future. Such interactions with future leaders are a big part of U.S. soft power. If we can attract some who wish to stay and even- tually become part of our citizenry, even better. Besides, if we don’t have a growing economy that generates jobs, how are we going to pay for our defense? Whatever one thinks of his specific fixes, Wadhwa argues forcefully that issu- ing more visas to talented foreign profes- sionals will add badly needed skills to our work force. And that will leave space for innovators to build the American compa- nies of the future. n Josh Glazeroff, an FSO since 1997, is consul general in New Delhi. Wadhwa makes a strong case that our visa policy could mean as much to us as our global defense deterrent.