I'm actually pretty convinced. I think the Party is basically fairly smart, and they are extremely aware of the threats to their rule. For instance, after the

I'm actually pretty convinced. I think the Party is basically fairly smart, and they are extremely aware of the threats to their rule. For instance, after the first gulf war, they started extensive military reforms, presumably seeing how Saddam's gigantic, tank-heavy, cold-war era army fared against new technology, and seeing that the same could happen to them. I think time and time again, they've moved very fast to neutralize threats - and as I see it, there are few that would be more pressing than general disillusionment, the normalization of graft and cynicism. It's this culture that really killed the USSR. When nobody believes in your system, it doesn't matter how absolute your power is, or how utterly defeated your enemies are. Everybody in your administration will be essentially working for themselves, and stealing everything that isn't bolted down.