Challenging the notion that populism is an anomaly in European politics, this book argues that the main threat to democracy is the exclusionary nature of European democratic traditions.

Drawing on decolonial studies, feminist theory, psychoanalysis, and democratic theory, the book reveals how liberal democracy in Europe promotes a fantasy of equality while its politics enacts the exact opposite. By exposing these injustices, the book makes a bold case: populism is not our main problem (or solution), but simply another facet of the ills of liberalism. The book is essential reading for understanding the future of democracy in Europe.