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My thanks to Mike Harpley at Atlantic, who had this idea long before Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. Mike was generous enough to allow me to interpret his idea in my own way, partly as a means to explore the constraints on democratic politics that are too easily overlooked. I am also grateful to all those at Atlantic who met such a tight deadline, namely Mandy Greenfield, Sally Sargeant and Chris Bell. Thanks also to my agent, Andrew Gordon, at David Higham Associates, who is brilliantly forensic and encouraging, qualities especially valued when writing speedily about fast moving events. I am also grateful to Professor Alasdair Blair who took the time to read the manuscript.