Транснационална мобилност на висококвалифицирани специалисти: предизвикателства пред Сърбия и Западните Балкани
Transnational Mobility of the Highly Skilled: Challenges for Serbia and the Western Balkans

Summary/Abstract: People with human, financial and social capital marketable beyond their country of origin – the ‘brains’ – are potentially more mobile than others who do not possess such capital. Their departure has long been frowned upon as an irreversible loss for the countries of origin who invested in their education and expected a return in terms of input in development and democratic transition. In the past two decades and in line with changing migration patterns, there has been a gradual change of perspective in what used to be considered exclusively a ‘brain drain’. More prevalent today, is a focus on mobility and the so-called win-win orientation rather than on loss. What caused that change of perspective when there has been no decrease in the proportion of the highly skilled leaving their countries and the consequences of their departure are no less alarming than before? This paper aims to contextualize the developments of the past few years in Serbia, to shed light on the changing migration patterns, and to discuss some new theoretical and political perspectives. It draws on my previous and ongoing research into the transnational mobility in particular of the highly skilled from post-Communist transition economies.

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