Orwell's polemic from 1945 shows the causes of nationalism, but also the related phenomena of modern ideology – due to similar attitudes. In this short essay, too, Orwell shows himself to be an astute observer and a gifted psychologist; brilliant. Some of the main ideas from "1984" are already anticipated in this essay, especially the alleged changeability of the past and the exaggeratedly positive perception of the actions of one's own nation.
