1984 #9

War is Peace

• US+Britain(+Austrailasia+S. Africa)=Oceania
• Russia+Europe(+rest of landmass, inc. N. Africa)=Eurasia
• Eastasia arises later, weaker: China, Japan, varying portions of Mongolia, Tibet, Mancuria
• All three countries: warmongering fierce, although pointless: self-contained & no winner
• Fighting over mid-Asia: 1/5 ppl live there, desire cheap labor
• Purpose of war: use up abundance so that concentration of power still exists
• Other ways to spend money, but attitude of war also necessary for patriotism
• Only existence of science for superweapon to defeat other countries
• Atomic bombs: unspoken agreement not to use b/c would ruin power, but stockpile
• No contact with foreigners - cannot see other ppl are like self
• All three countries are same - all pyramid, Ingsoc/Neo-Bolshevism/"Obliteration of the Self"
• No need for efficiency when war cannot end
• Eternal war = eternal peace ==> WAR IS PEACE

Ignorance is Strength

•  Three groups: High, Middle, Low
• High: Stay high
• Middle: Become high
• Low: Equality for all
• History repeats self: middle conquers high by falsely with low, low stay low afterwards
•  This time, permanent retention of high
• Before, classes necessary for order; now, prosperous enough that not so
• Middle now supports high b/c fears & does not desire equality
• 1930s, given up on equality just as equality becomes important
•  Major diff: More conscious of what doing, more focused on crushing opposition than prior more liberal totalitarian states
• Possibility of constant surveillance not available prior
• Ingsoc operated main goal of socialism
• Four ways for gov't to fall
• Conquering by external sources - passed by that point
• Poor enough ruling to stir the masses - theoretical only; never revolt of own accord, w/o comparison don't even know what is missing
• Middle rises up - fixed by constant monitoring
• Top loses self-confidence/willingness to govern - biggest issue, large liberal/skeptic diversion bad for party, so need constant education
• BB only telescreen, never die; Inner Party brain, Outer Party hands, Proles
• Theoretically, not born into  position; Proles don't advance, Inner/Outer only slightly as appropriate (Outer up if ambitious, Inner weaklings go down)
• Not hereditary = beneficial in formative years
• Proles to stupid to rebel; Party too heavily watched
• Crimestop: not thinking too much if going to commit thoughtcrime
• Blackwhite: For enemy, black is white, regardless of facts; for ally, white is black, if told so
• Modification of past: first, no comparison; second, Party always right
• Party's view of past: Not objective, memory and records; ctrls both (mind via doublethink)
• Highest, most privileged = most deluded: intelligent = crazy, b/c both != power stable