The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism

1. The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism by Emmanuel Goldstein

2. Terms to Know • Oligarchy – rule of the many by the few • Hierarchy - the classification of a group of people according to ability or to economic, social, or professional standing

3. Chapter 1 Ignorance is Strength

4. KINGS RICH PRIESTS BOURGEIOSIE ROYALS MASSES HIGH POOR LAND-OWNERS MIDDLE SERFS LOW Chapter 1: Ignorance is Strength • Since ancient times, the world has consisted of three kinds of people: • the High • the Middle • the Low • Dividing lines have changed, but pattern has been constant

5. Chapter 1: Ignorance is Strength “The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable.”

6. Chapter 1: Ignorance is Strength To be continued…

7. Chapter 3 War is Peace

8. Chapter 3: War is Peace • Division of world into three superpowers foreseen by end of WWII • All three are permanently at war • War is no longer a struggle for complete annihilation, like WWII • Goals are limited • Takes place only on frontiers • Central areas of the three powers are never truly threatened

9. Chapter 3: War is Peace • War still includes atrocities, even more than ever, like… • looting • rape • abuse of POWs • enslavement of populations • slaughter of children

10. BUT…. War is fought for different reasons now.

11. The Nature of War • War cannot be won • Superpowers are too evenly matched • There is no real reason for war • Each superpower has self-contained economy – no resources or markets needed from another power • War fought only for control of disputed areas’ people and resources – especially slave labor

12. The Nature of War • Slave labor is not, however, necessary • It doesn’t increase the powers’ wealth • All wealth generated is used simply to keep fighting the wars • If it didn’t exist, pace of warfare would just be slowed down

13. Nature of War So what is the purpose of war?

14. Purpose of War • Use up production without raising the standard of living for most people • Production generates wealth • Wealth goes somewhere… • Wealth generated by earlier wars raised standard of living for all • But now, the general standard of living is much lower than pre-WWII

15. Nature of War Why keep the standard of living low?

16. Nature of War • All-around increase in wealth threatens the HIGH group • If everyone has a high standard of living, what difference does wealth make? What keeps the High on top? • If people have leisure time, they have time to learn… • And if they learn, they can think…

17. Nature of War Sooner or later, an educated population with time on its hands will realize that they don’t need the High group… and revolt. The High gets toppled. The Middle becomes the High. The Low remains low.

18. Nature of War “In the long run, a hierarchical society was only possible on a basis of poverty and ignorance.”

19. Nature of War • How to stop the advance of the standard of living? • Halt industrial advances? War would be lost. • Stop producing so much wealth? War would be lost.

20. Nature of War • How to stop the advance of the standard of living? • Advance industry, create products – but keep them out of the hands of the many • How? Continuous Warfare

21. Continuous Warfare • War = Destruction • $100 million spent = massive amounts of commercial goods • general standard of living rises OR • $100 million spent = 1 Floating Fortress • destroyed or discarded, and no one benefits at all

22. Continuous Warfare • War effort eats up all wealth beyond most basic needs of the population • With only a few luxuries available, distinctions between High (Inner Party), Middle (Outer Party) and Low (Proles) are easily seen and felt by all

23. Continuous Warfare • War forces privations in a “psychologically acceptable way” • You could dig holes or erect monuments, but the masses at labor would not continually accept this • But if the masses must labor to defeat a hated, vicious, dangerous enemy…

24. Continuous Warfare • It doesn’t really matter what the Low (proles/masses) think or feel • The High need to prevent any ambition or indignation of the Middle • What keeps the Middle feeling fear, hatred, reverence, and triumph?

25. CONTINUOUS WAR

26. Continuous Warfare • To keep party members in a state of war frenzy, it doesn’t matter if a war is actually happening… as long as they believe it is happening • For the Outer Party members: propaganda, displays of prisoners, Hate Week, etc. • For the Inner Party: doublethink –believe the lie even as you tell it

27. Continuous Warfare Inner Party members believe more than anyone that the war is real, that it is winnable, and that Oceania can defeat its enemies and control the entire world… …even though Inner Party members have to create and perpetuate the lies

28. Continuous Warfare • The Party believes that victory will be achieved one of two ways: • Conquest of the most territory, to create overwhelming power compared to enemies • Development of a weapon that cannot be matched

29. Continuous Warfare • “Science” in Oceania explores only two things: • Weapon development – world conquest • Mind control – abolishing independent thought • There is no Newspeak word for “Science” • Scientific thought as we know it – question, test, observe, conclude – is incompatible with principles of Ingsoc

30. Continuous Warfare • Technology only advances when its purpose is to diminish human liberty • Weapons of mass destruction = death • Tools and practice of surveillance = imprisonment at home

31. Continuous Warfare • The Party devotes massive amounts of resources to developing unmatchable weapons… • …but these weapons projects never even come close to completion • The war effort simply creates products of no social benefit

32. Continuous Warfare • In all wars leading up to WWII… • Massive segments of soldier populations could be killed • Massive amounts of territory could be conquered • But in the Continuous War of the Superpowers… • There are not many fighting deaths • Territory is only won and lost on the frontiers

33. Continuous Warfare • The Superpowers never gain a significant advantage over each other • The Superpowers never seriously risk defeat • All three Superpowers manage the war in the same way • Life in all three Superstates is basically arranged in the same way

34. Society in the Superstates • There is no contact with foreigners, except prisoners and slaves • If people knew foreign people, language, and culture, they would see that… • Foreigners are much like themselves • What they’ve been told about foreigners are lies • The reasons for the war are not real

35. Society in the Superstates • Eastasia and Eurasia have societies and governments much like Oceania’s • Both have philosophies just like Ingsoc • Worship of leader • Pyramidal structure • Economy based on continuous warfare

36. “The three super-states not only cannot conquer one another, but would gain no advantage by doing so.

37. “On the contrary, so long as they remain in conflict they prop one another up, like three sheaves of corn.

38. “And, as usual, the ruling groups of all three powers are simultaneously aware and unaware of what they are doing.

39. “Their lives are dedicated to world conquest, but they also know that it is necessary that the war should continue everlastingly and without victory.”

40. The New Nature of War • In the past… • War actually threatened ruling classes • Danger of conquest forced ruling classes to accept physical reality • 2+2 cannot =5 when weapons must be engineered and manufactured, and soldiers must be trained • History had to be acknowledged to guard against military defeat

41. The New Nature of War • In 1984… • War poses no true threat to ruling class • Territory will not be conquered • Wars will not be lost • Superstates can exist as mini-universes unto themselves • So… • History can be altered • Physical reality can be redefined • 2+2 CAN =5

42. The New Nature of War • War is now a pretend version of what it once was • Looks like “war” in many respects, but doesn’t behave like wars once behaved • Wars are now internal • Not truly waged by nation against nation • Waged by ruling classes against own people

43. The New Nature of War • In the past… • War’s purpose was conquest of territory and resources • In 1984… • War’s purpose is to keep the structure of society intact • Permanent war is just like permanent peace • War’s purpose is to keep the structure of society intact • Permanent war is just like permanent peace

44. War is Peace

45. Chapter 1 Ignorance is Strength

46. KINGS RICH PRIESTS BOURGEIOSIE ROYALS MASSES HIGH POOR LAND-OWNERS MIDDLE SERFS LOW Chapter 1: Ignorance is Strength • Since ancient times, the world has consisted of three kinds of people: • the High • the Middle • the Low • Dividing lines have changed, but pattern has been constant

47. Chapter 1: Ignorance is Strength • The High wants to remain High • The Middle wants to change places with the High • The Low wants equality for all humankind • Usually, Low is too immersed in labor and daily drudgery to want anything political

48. Chapter 1: Ignorance is Strength “The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable.”

49. Chapter 1: Ignorance is Strength • Throughout history, pattern repeats: • High rules for years • Eventually, High fails to govern effectively and Middle overthrows it • Middle allies with the Low, then throws them aside • High becomes Middle, Low returns to Low, and cycle continues

50. Historical Cycle of Power • Throughout history, the Middle used terms of enlightenment… • Liberty • Equality • Brotherhood • Justice