European integration and the Western Community have been the most successful political and economic innovations in modern times. This book is based on extensive research carried out on three continents over a period of several years. It deals with three main issues: the origins and main achievements of European integration and the broader Western Community, which includes Europe, the United States, Japan and many other democracies; recent political crises and attacks against European and Western values and institutions; the outlook and options for the future. Democracy, solidarity, human rights and freedom, perpetual peace among the members and collective security against authoritarian and totalitarian regimes were the key concepts that guided the Founding Fathers in Europe, America and Japan. Conclusion of the book: the community of free democracies can survive against the current rise of the authoritarians only if the West remains faithful to these values and objectives.