1984 doesn't predict an actual perpetual war, just the believe in one. You can see this working with terrorism quite nicely. Actual attacks are rare and overall

1984 doesn't predict an actual perpetual war, just the believe in one. You can see this working with terrorism quite nicely. Actual attacks are rare and overall insignificant but nevertheless both parties believe themselves to be in an important war and perform actions that help reinforce each others beliefs and recruitment efforts. In reality it's really just a blood feud and will end only once one side stops participating.