The goal of Islamic terrorism has been to encourage a clash of civilizations and sow chaos in the West. Donald Trump and Europe’s far right are giving them their victory. By Dave Keating

A controversial decree passed by the government has spurred hundreds of thousand of Romanians to the streets. Can the protesters bring real reform to Romania’s corrupt government? By Lina Vdovii

Ahead of this year’s federal elections, Chancellor Angela Merkel is coming under serious pressure – Frank-Walter Steinmeier, from the rival Social Democrat party, has just been named president. However, the change is slight, and shows how resistant Germany is to the wave of populism sweeping Europe. By Bettina Vestring

For many Likudniks, the election of Donald Trump was seen as a welcome change. But as a recently-passed settlement law demonstrates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may only have won the rope he needs to hang himself. By Richard Schneider

Germany and Poland have much to gain from each other – and both countries’ leaders are trying to make the most of their relationship. But important questions about democracy and European unity are getting in the way. By Derek Scally

Read our – free – January/February 2017 issue on the (not entirely positive) role of digital media in Western democracies ("Digital Manipulation") via our app for Android and Apple devices.

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