“The Book” within a Book:Emmanuel Goldstein’s view

of Oceania

The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism

• Oligarchical stemming from the word ‘oligarchy’ = from of government in which a small group of people have control of a country/organization.

• Collectivism = political theory of organization in which ownership of property/production is controlled by “the people” – not individuals (like capitalism)

• Three Chapters: “War is Peace,” “Ignorance is Strength,” “Freedom is Slavery”

Main Ideas of Goldstein’s Book:

•Global Stalemate:

• 3 Super States: Eurasia, Eastasia, Oceania

• Large enough to support themselves – can sustain own resources.

• Each is powerful enough by itself that it cannot be conquered – all three are in a global stalemate.

Never-Ending War

• No need for war, but there is.

• Why is there war? It’s a way of utilizing human labor – used by all three Super States.

• Continuous war is the economic basis of a hierarchal society.

• Human labor is not to increase standard of living – it is to control societal roles.

“War is Peace”

• War is continuous and normal for society.

• The opposing sides are not trying to win anything – there is no winner.

• Continuity of the war guarantees the permanence of the current world order.

• War is the status quo – in other words…

• “War is Peace”.

An Emotional Focal Point

• People connect to Big Brother with their feelings.

• Their hopes, fears - worries over protection and safety are enlisted in Big Brother.

• Whatever Big Brother says is “the absolute truth” because he is saying it.

• Anything not in line with Big Brother must be false.

Collectivism Does Not Lead to Socialism

• Socialism: The equal sharing of goods and services produced by society)

• All wealth belongs to Inner Party.

• Collectivism is propaganda that makes society think that everything belongs to everyone.

• Ensures permanence of economic inequality = keeps the Party in Power

• Wealth is kept within the ruling group. Not inherited from person to person.

No Private Emotions

• The Proles are given freedom of thought because they do not think.

• Party members are not allowed to have private emotions.

• Allowed to hate foreigners and traitors.

• Allowed to love and fear Big Brother.

• Doublethink begins in childhood which constitutes mental training – attaching itself to the slogan “Ignorance is Strength”

No Basis For Comparison

• No comparison to quality of life if the Party controls every emotion and form of media.

• “Everything is Getting Better”

• An obvious lie – but it is believed because people do not know how to question Big Brother.

• They accept that life is getting better (ex: Chocolate rations continue to lower, yet believed to be higher from last report)

Lack of Values Allows Total Control of Humans

• Fascism: a belief in the supremacy of one national or ethnic group (a contempt for democracy, insistence on obedience to a powerful leader)

• Those who have no ethical values have nothing to stop them from exerting total control over those they want to abuse.

• If it is believed that no action is wrong, than any action is just.

• Big Brother = By Any Means Necessary