There is a precedent of sorts: in his beer company, he has achieved a balance of terror with his partner, Heineken, with each side owning a 37.5% stake.

ECONOMIST: An Indian conglomerate in trouble

For the past two years Greece and its donors have held each other in a balance of financial terror, each fearing the meltdown that would follow a Greek default and departure from the euro.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

The question weighing on the minds of the ever-dwindling number of Turks who want to join the European Union is how to balance the fight against terror with the country's European aspirations.

ECONOMIST: Resorting to terror