Britain’s secession from the European Union is such a huge event in history that it’s impossible to say any one true thing about it.

Of course, pundits pretend to sum up Brexit. It’s mere populism. “Messy and self-destructive,” said the New York Times. “We love Europe; we just hate the European Union. It’s as simple as that,” said Nigel Farage, who ran the anti-EU project for 30 years and is finally triumphant (and typically mean-spirited).