In this new study, Farrelly gives a critical study of democracy as conceived and practiced in modern liberal developed countries. The wisdom received about democracy is tested by close analysis of the discourse with critical theories of democracy and the state.

The main theme of the book is the contradiction of the prevailing reference to democracy as legitimate for political action by liberal governments as opposed to the weakening of actual democratic practice in the liberal world. Farley builds on Verkelo et al's work to study this contradiction and develop a new critical concept of "democracy" as an ideology that undermines the possibility of a more realistic democracy through political representatives who over-simplify the idea of ​​democracy. The book includes critical analyzes of key political texts from presidential speeches and prime ministers from the United States and the United Kingdom that link democracy to non-democratic practices..