If you want to understand the world... follow the money!

(To Andrea Sapori)
24/01/25

100 years ago Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, known as Lenin. She said: “Politics is the concentrated expression of economics”, a concept that we could translate as “if you want to understand the world, follow the money”. Never before has it seemed as if he was right.

In Washington, last Monday, one of the highest concentrations of money per square meter of history. Following the money, as Lenin suggests, we arrive at the Capitol, where a billionaire has been elected head of the largest democracy in the “free” world (although it would be more correct to refer to India). This election took place among other billionaires, protagonists of a system in which political and economic power seem inseparable.

Browsing through available sources, the following emerges Global Trends 2030 of the US National Intelligence Council, which analyzes the wealth of nations to predict future instability in key sectors such as energy, raw materials, technology and demographics. The global financial system, based on the US dollar, remains a central concern.

Russia, despite a GDP comparable to the Italian one, surprises for some peculiarities: low debt levels, high capacity to generate cash flow and significant investment opportunities. These capabilities derive mainly from the sale of natural resources such as hydrocarbons, extracted from a subsoil that, net of operating expenses, offers enormous profit margins compared to economies such as Japan or Europe, which are heavily dependent on the import of raw materials.

Some sources1,2 They claim that Vladimir Putin is the richest man in the world. He is said to indirectly own huge oilfields, industries, and strategic resources. If this were true, his wealth would far exceed that of the likes of Elon Musk. However, intelligence interests are less focused on material goods and more on a leader's ability to influence the geopolitical landscape. Putin, with his control over thousands of nuclear warheads and a highly centralized policy, is unique in the global context.

In the United States, figures like Trump have been the focus of domestic intelligence. For the former president, money seems to be the key to everything, a factor that could explain his detachment from Putin's support in favor of new sponsors, including some of the richest Americans, like those present at his side in Washington. These billionaires control computer networks and communication tools that effectively govern the Western world, consolidating their political influence.

China and Europe: Different Perspectives

Xi Jinping, by definition a modern emperor, understands the value of trade. His strategy is based on a long-term vision inherited from the philosophy of Deng Xiaoping (“Get Rich”), which gives China a strong position in international negotiations.

In contrast, Europe appears fragmented and weak. Lacking economic figures comparable to American or Chinese oligarchs, it presents itself as a "regulator" rather than a global economic player. European politicians, unable to adapt quickly to changes, risk being relegated to a secondary role. However, Italians are said to be among the best traders in the world: this could be an opportunity for Italy to emerge in an increasingly difficult competitive context.

Politics, economics and global power are intertwined in increasingly complex ways. The strategic choices of world leaders, influenced by the control of resources and economic competition, determine the balance of the international system. In this context, “follow the money” remains a valid and current interpretative key.

1 https://www.wired.it/attualita/politica/2021/02/11/putin-uomo-piu-ricco-...

2 https://www.we-wealth.com/news/putin-patrimonio-navalny