This is a profound revision. Orthodox Marxism held that class disappears when private ownership of productive forces is abolished. Djilas counters that . The state, under communism, becomes the sole proprietor. Those who administer the state—the party officials, directors, secret police, and military commanders—thus wield ownership power collectively. Hence, “the new class appropriates the national income not through direct ownership but through the monopoly of administration” (Djilas, 1957, p. 45).
Milovan Djilas's "The New Class" (1957) argues that communist revolutions inevitably create a privileged political bureaucracy that monopolizes power and controls nationalized property for its own benefit. This analysis highlights the ideological contradiction between socialist theory and the reality of a parasitic, self-serving elite. Access the English edition on or a Russian PDF on Vtoraya Literatura RCIN.org.pl
If you manage to locate the PDF, do not just skim the first chapter. Print it, annotate it, or read it next to Orwell’s Animal Farm . You will find not a dry political treatise, but a confession of a revolutionary who looked in the mirror and saw a jailer. Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf
"The New Class" was a significant critique of Soviet-type socialism, and it had a substantial impact on Western thought about communism. The book was widely read and discussed in the 1950s and 1960s and remains an important work in the study of communist systems.
Individuals who manage the state apparatus and economic resources. This is a profound revision
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.
Milovan Djilas's The New Class argues that Communist revolutions create a distinct ruling elite of party bureaucrats who exploit nationalized property for personal gain. The work outlines how this "new class" enforces ideological conformity to maintain a monopoly on power, transforming revolutionary ideals into bureaucratic tyranny. For an academic overview of these arguments, visit Academia.edu . The New Class: An Analysis of the Communist System The state, under communism, becomes the sole proprietor
Milovan Đilas (1911-1995) was a Yugoslavian communist politician, writer, and theorist. He was a close associate of Josip Broz Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia, and served as a high-ranking official in the Yugoslavian government.
A: Yes, the book is often available via the Internet Archive (Open Library) for borrowing. However, due to copyright, widespread free distribution is illegal. Many universities provide access through their library portals.
The central argument of The New Class is that communist revolutions did not abolish social hierarchy but replaced the old capitalist class with a . This "New Class" consists of: