Freedom is Slavery

The theory and practice of Oligarchical Collectivism
-- by: Huxwell
MHP hypertext version for non-profit educational use only

Oligarchical Collectivism

In the classic novel "1984", author George Orwell describes a not-too-distant future where an oppressive totalitarian elite has perfected a system of social control based on perpetual warfare, manipulation of perceived reality, and total surveillance of the population. The servile obedience of the bureaucracy and the mindless poverty of the masses keeps them in power.

In the novel, when Winston Smith is recruited by agent O'Brien to join an underground freedom movement, he is given a book attributed to the heretic Goldstein titled "The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism". In it,Orwell provides an in-depth analysis of the Party and its methods.

"It had long been realized that the only secure basis for oligarchy is collectivism. Wealth and privilege are most easily defended when they are possessed jointly. The so-called 'abolition of private property' meant in effect the concentration of property in far fewer hands than before...with the result, forseen and intended beforehand, that economic inequality has been made permanent."

These are the defining slogans of the Party, which are inscribed on the wall of the immense white pyramid that is the symbol of its hierarchical power:

War for the masses = Peace for the elite

The Ministry of Peace maintains the illusion of perpetual warfare to prevent the masses from uniting against the system, and to keep them dependent upon the Party for "security". It is the pretext for more control and greater extortion, and serves to keep the masses impoverished. Each of the global power blocs operates under the same system of control. The so-called renegade leaders are merely puppets. With the masses divided by fear and living in poverty, the global oligarchs rule them undisturbed.

"The war is merely an imposture. The war is waged by each ruling group against its own subjects, and the object of the war is...to keep the structure of society intact. The primary aim of modern warfare is to use up the products of the machine without raising the general standard of living."

Slavery for the masses = Freedom for the elite

The Ministry of Plenty uses a system of fiat money, taxation and wage slavery to keep the masses fully occupied at a minimal level of existence, with the illusion of being able to "get ahead" by striving harder. They are too concerned with their daily occupations to understand or organize effectively against the system of exploitation. While the masses slave away, the oligarchs enjoy wealth and freedom at their expense.

"An all around increase in wealth threatened the destruction of a hierarchical society. If leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings...would become literate and would learn to think for themselves. They would sooner or later realize that the privileged minority had no function, and they would sweep it away. In the long run, a hierarchical society was only possible on a basis of poverty and ignorance."

Ignorance for the masses = Strength for the elite

The Ministry of Truth uses control over the education system and the communications media to keep the masses in a state of ignorance and incapable of perceiving the facts of their manipulation. By controlling all sources of information, and playing one ignorant group off against the other, they ensure that effective opposition does not arise. While the masses attempt to make sense of the false reality fed to them in the schools and on the telescreens, the elite manipulators that write the scripts laugh at their confusion.

"All the beliefs, habits, tastes, emotions, mental attitudes that characterize our time are really designed to...prevent the true nature of present-day society from being perceived. If the 'High' are to keep their places permanently, then the prevailing mental condition must be controlled insanity."

A short article can't begin to do justice to all of the themes that Orwell explores so well in "1984". If you haven't read it recently, I urge you to do so. It should be a real eye-opener, especially in light of current events. It's available online at several sites, along with many good essays. See database entry for George Orwell and follow the links.

Orwell was an astute observer and an excellent storyteller. Sadly, his prophetic warning of things to come was not far off the mark. We are now thirty years into that future. The system of staged warfare, reality manipulation, total surveillance and universal slavery is essentially in place. Wake up and smell the Victory Coffee brewing!