"It's not a matter of whether the war is not real, or if it is, Victory is not possible. The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. Hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. This new version is the past and no different past can ever have existed. In principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the grueling group against its own subjects and its object is not the victory over either Eurasia or East Asia but to keep the very structure of society intact." - George Orwell, 1984 Interestingly in 1984, Oceania is always allied with the power that it is not currently at war with. It is never explored what happens if Oceania is simultaneously at war with Eastasia and Eurasia. But, the war may or may not be real (in varying extents), so it may make little practical difference to the people of Oceania whether their excess productivity is squandered on one front or two.