Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 46 minutes ago
In George Orwell’s 1984, the main character ‘Winston could not definitely remember a time when his country had not been at war’. In fact, in 1984 there is a state of perpetual war between the nations of Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia.
For democracy to be effective there must be a culture of toleration, compromise, and open rational debate; a peaceful social interaction that revolves around the participation of individuals who respect each other’s human rights. War produces just the opposite condition. War needs individuals subsumed to the interests of the group: the nation and the fatherland. It is the emotions of patriotism and hatred of the other, not reason and empathy that are the most welcome characteristics. And for those who do the fighting and the killing, there are the long-term effects of social alienation, dehumanization and comradeship which can make it very difficult to re-adjust to peacetime conditions and civilian authority.
Another in the series of short films introducing the subject of modern authoritarian states for history students of the IB Diploma.
In George Orwell’s 1984, the main character ‘Winston could not definitely remember a time when his country had not been at war’. In fact, in 1984 there is a state of perpetual war between the nations of Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia.
For democracy to be effective there must be a culture of toleration, compromise, and open rational debate; a peaceful social interaction that revolves around the participation of individuals who respect each other’s human rights. War produces just the opposite condition. War needs individuals subsumed to the interests of the group: the nation and the fatherland. It is the emotions of patriotism and hatred of the other, not reason and empathy that are the most welcome characteristics. And for those who do the fighting and the killing, there are the long-term effects of social alienation, dehumanization and comradeship which can make it very difficult to re-adjust to peacetime conditions and civilian authority.
Another in the series of short films introducing the subject of modern authoritarian states for history students of the IB Diploma.
