Linkage

Patriotism with Chinese characteristics.
Crookedtimber on economists on migration. Note the claim: "since population movements on the scale that Phelps and Kennan contemplate typically come with other problems, such as serious ethnic conflict...." Perhaps true, but certainly unsourced. Nineteenth-century America saw huge immigration but without serious conflict -- at least, serious in comparison to the benefit it, and the world, gained.
New blog, related to new book.
Ta-Nehisi Coates on the problems of being Obama. Here's a good paragraph:

In a democracy, so the saying goes, the people get the government they deserve. Part of Obama’s genius is a remarkable ability to soothe race consciousness among whites. Any black person who’s worked in the professional world is well acquainted with this trick. But never has it been practiced at such a high level, and never have its limits been so obviously exposed.

My take: multicultural democracy involves constant walking on eggshells.