Good point. The big players leave some areas alone because if/when they win the game against the big countries they can just sweep up the lesser important places.

In your post you mentioned fiat currency, but more pointedly, I think it is the central bank systems. If we were printing treasury notes instead of having Federal Reserve Notes we would be in a better position. All the current block chain crypto currency and whatever the BRICS are planning with there digital currency (PARTIALLY backed by gold = because there is not enough gold on the planet for a fully gold backed global currency) becomes another fiat central bank currency but with total control to enforce compliance over the people and the nations.