1984

           Wealthandprivilegearemosteasilydefendedwhentheyarepossessedjointly. Theso-called‘abolitionofprivateproperty’whichtookplaceinthemiddleyearsofthecenturymeant,ineffect,theconcentrationofpropertyinfarfewerhandsthanbefore: butwiththisdifference,thatthenewownerswereagroupinsteadofamassofindividuals. Individually,nomemberofthePartyownsanything,exceptpettypersonalbelongings. Collectively,thePartyownseverythinginOceania,becauseitcontrolseverything,anddisposesoftheproductsasitthinksfit. IntheyearsfollowingtheRevolutionitwasabletostepintothiscommandingpositionalmostunopposed,becausethewholeprocesswasrepresentedasanactofcollectivization. Ithadalwaysbeenassumedthatifthecapitalistclasswereexpropriated,Socialismmustfollow:andunquestionablythecapitalistshadbeenexpropriated. Factories,mines,land,houses,transport—everythinghadbeentakenawayfromthem: andsincethesethingswerenolongerprivateproperty,itfollowedthattheymustbepublicproperty. Ingsoc,whichgrewoutoftheearlierSocialistmovementandinheriteditsphraseology,hasinfactcarriedoutthemainitemintheSocialistprogramme; withtheresult,foreseenandintendedbeforehand,thateconomicinequalityhasbeenmadepermanent. 

           Buttheproblemsofperpetuatingahierarchicalsocietygodeeperthanthis. Thereareonlyfourwaysinwhicharulinggroupcanfallfrompower. Eitheritisconqueredfromwithout,oritgovernssoinefficientlythatthemassesarestirredtorevolt,oritallowsastronganddiscontentedMiddlegrouptocomeintobeing,oritlosesitsownself-confidenceandwillingnesstogovern. Thesecausesdonotoperatesingly,andasaruleallfourofthemarepresentinsomedegree. Arulingclasswhichcouldguardagainstallofthemwouldremaininpowerpermanently. Ultimatelythedeterminingfactoristhementalattitudeoftherulingclassitself.