Politicology The Age of Financial Repression—Part 2
Jan 15, 2026
Jorge Jraissati, an economist and president of the Economic Inclusion Group, delves into financial systems and exclusion. He explains FATF’s hidden influence on global banking rules and how it pressures nations through gray lists. The conversation reveals the consequences of debanking, including asset freezes that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Jorge emphasizes the potential of Bitcoin as a lifeline for the unbanked, while highlighting the critical need for reforms to safeguard due process and ensure financial inclusion.
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FATF's Hidden Global Power
- FATF wields enormous 'soft power' that effectively sets global banking rules despite non-binding status.
- Gray/black listing raises cross-border costs and makes democratic accountability nearly impossible.
Institutional Bias Favors Surveillance
- FATF's isolation and narrow institutional composition bias it toward surveillance-heavy outcomes.
- Lack of civil-society and rights-focused voices skews policy away from human-rights and inclusion concerns.
Asset Freezes Undermine Currency Neutrality
- Freezing foreign reserves (e.g., Russia) damages perceived neutrality of reserve currencies.
- Such actions create long-term trust risks even if politically tempting in wartime.