Satyajit Das: American Greatness?

Satyajit Das, a former banker and author, argues that the United States is transitioning into a failed First-World kleptocracy. In a piece published in the New Indian Express and republished on Naked Capitalism, Das reflects on the 250th anniversary of American independence, contending that the nation's historical advantages—geography, resources, immigration, and the dollar's reserve status—have eroded. He cites deindustrialization, declining educational performance (US students ranked 28th in math and 12th in science among OECD countries), and reliance on foreign talent. Das criticizes the Trump administration's policies, including immigration restrictions, tariffs, and threats to the rule of law, as accelerating decline. He warns of societal divisions, a non-trivial chance of civil war, and parallels to regimes like Idi Amin's Uganda and Mobutu Sese Seko's Zaire. Das's latest book, The Everything Bubble, is due in 2027.