216 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

do so. It may well be that Hitler's Government is approved by a
majority of Germans, but, since it does not allow criticism, it is not
a democracy, nor can there be any feir test of its popularity. The
present working of the British Constitution satisfies both this point
and the preceding; it secures a Government which commands
obedience but submits itself periodically to the people's judgment.
Fifth, the economic and social structure must be such as to allow
the previous conditions to be realised in fact as they are stated
in law. The effect of economic and social factors on British politics
has been noticed. The educational system, the method of recruit-
ment for the higher ranks of the Civil Service and the Armed
Forces,, the influence of money at elections, combine to put a
great proportion of power in the hands of a small section of the
people. This "ruling class" could not prevent the election of a
Government which would strike at their privileges, though they
could obstruct its policy. As, however, the electorate have not yet
made such a choice, the exact extent of economic checks to
democracy in Britain cannot be measured.

EFFECTS OF DEMOCRACY.

Democracy can be considered first as a method of Government
—the method of consent, majority rule and free discussion. But
the use of the - democratic method creates something else—a
democratic atmosphere; persuasion, argument, the power to
present a convincing case are esteemed more highly than a
display of force or the dictator's ability to make impassioned
speeches where no one can heckle or contradict. This atmosphere
of discussion is the most important of all the characteristics of
democracy because it breeds among citizens respect for one
another's opinions.'i8tb century Britain, for all its restricted
franchise, had this mark of democracy. Government was in the
hands of a few, but they conducted it by discussion amongst
themselves in Parliament; and from this centre ideas and
argument spread to the unenficanchised. For this reason it was
the easier to extend the franchise in the I9th century; those who