Foreign money is still flowing into the United States. The more interesting question is what foreigners are buying. Over the past year they have poured money into American shares and corporate bonds while their purchases of U.S. government debt have fallen sharply. This is not evidence of a flight from America.

Amin’s critique frames the essay: culturalism blames poverty on culture, not capitalism.  Nationalism across the spectrum naturalises inequality and deflects from structural violence; reinventing universal values is needed to confront capital.

The essay insists the economy isn’t a natural machine but a human order shaped by laws.  Political economy keeps money and power together and asks who benefits and who pays.