This title describes how racism and discrimination have been central to democracies from the classical period to today. As right-wing nationalism and authoritarian populism gain momentum across the world, liberals, and even some conservatives, worry that democratic principles are under threat. This book argues that the current rise in xenophobia and racist rhetoric is nothing new and that exclusionary policies have always been central to democratic practices since their beginnings in classical times. Contending that democracy has never been for all people, it discusses how marginalization is reinforced in modern politics, and why these contradictions need to be fully examined if the dynamics of democracy are to be truly understood. Showing the ways that race, gender, nationality, and other criteria have determined a person's status in political life, the volume offers important historical context for how democracy generates political difference and inequality.