1984 (2,9) WAR IS PEACE

[monk222]

The war, therefore, if we judge it by the standards of previous wars is merely an imposture. It is like the battles between certain ruminant animals whose horns are set at such an angle that they are incapable of hurting one another. [...] The war is waged by each ruling group against its own subjects, and the object of the war is not to make or prevent conquests of territory, but to keep the structure of society intact. The very word “war”, therefore, has become misleading. It would probably be more accurate to say that by becoming continuous war has ceased to exist. [...] This - although the vast majority of Party members understand it only in a shallower sense - is the inner meaning of the Party slogan: WAR IS PEACE.

-- “1984” by George Orwell

This summary paragraph closes chapter three of Emmanuel Goldstein’s book.