'A profoundly thoughtful work that establishes Aletta Norval in the front rank of contemporary political theorists. Through a reciprocal elucidation of the insights and illusions of deliberative and post-structuralist approaches to democracy, Norval grounds a compelling argument for the value of a Wittgensteinian turn in democratic theory. Aversive Democracy promises to become a pivotal text for the future direction of radical democratic thought.' David Owen, University of Southampton