Ansell argues that politics falters not because of bad actors, but because our collective goals – democracy, equality, solidarity, security, and prosperity are riddled with structural contradictions. Each aspiration contains a ‘trap’. We want equal rights and equal outcomes, but they often conflict, we seek solidarity, but only when it benefits us directly. Ansell uses historical and contemporary examples to show how self-interest undermines collective progress, and how escaping these traps requires not abandoning politics, but embracing it more intelligently. His framework offers a compelling lens for understanding why good intentions so often yield disappointing results.