The conditions under which democracy can flourish are difficult to define; but one thing is clear that democracy is always a slow growth, whereas dictators may rise to power and inaugurate a new regime with dramatic suddenness and success, under suitable conditions. One great new force has appeared in the world since the Great War, the art of modern propaganda. It is invaluable to the dictator who can inculcate his creed day by day through the press, the cinema, the radio, the whole body of the people and can suppress all counter propaganda. It is a terrible danger to democracy, since it tends to destroy the sound and commonsense judgment of the people which depends on constant access to facts and on honest public discussion based on those facts. Then again the kindly and cooperative outlook which alone can make democracy a success depends on material conditions, on the economic security and welfare of the whole of the people; a starving man or a man in constant fear of unemployment cannot be expected to be a good citizen of democracy. And lastly, war is utterly hostile to democracy. The horrors and passion of war inevitably produce a war mentality under which the method of democracy becomes impossible.