To a western world whose darkest fear is that south-eastern Europe will slide into anarchy, a strongman who can deliver may seem preferable to chaos.

ECONOMIST: A victory for despots?

In 1933, during the darkest days of the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt declared that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself", and offered a "new deal" to the American people, promising a period of bold, vigorous and continuous experimentation, which he hoped would reduce unemployment and get American workers back into jobs.

BBC: A Point of View: Roll up for the inauguration