Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf: The Story Behind the Controversial Manuscript
Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf: The Book that Shook the World
Milovan Djilas was a Yugoslav communist leader who became the first prominent dissident in the history of communist Eastern Europe. He wrote a book called Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf (The New Class) that exposed the corruption and tyranny of the communist system. The book was smuggled to the West and published in 1957, causing a sensation and a scandal. It was translated into sixty languages and sold three million copies. It was also banned and condemned by the communist authorities, who put Djilas on trial and imprisoned him for many years.
Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf
Who was Milovan Djilas?
Milovan Djilas was born in 1911 in Montenegro, then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in 1932 and became a close associate of Josip Broz Tito, the leader of the Yugoslav resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II. Djilas was a member of the Central Committee and the Politburo of the party, and held various government positions after the war. He was also a prolific writer and intellectual, who published several books and articles on politics, history, and culture.
What is Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf about?
Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf is a critique of the communist system, based on Djilas' personal experience and observation. He argues that communism creates a new class of privileged bureaucrats and party officials, who exploit and oppress the masses in the name of socialism. He exposes the hypocrisy, corruption, and violence of this new class, who enjoy luxury and power while denying freedom and democracy to the people. He also criticizes Stalinism and Soviet domination over Eastern Europe, and advocates for national independence and self-determination.
Why is Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf important?
Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf is important because it was one of the first and most influential books that challenged the legitimacy and ideology of communism from within. It inspired many other dissidents and reformers in Eastern Europe and beyond, who sought to expose the truth and demand change. It also provoked a fierce reaction from the communist authorities, who tried to suppress and discredit it. It showed that communism was not monolithic and invincible, but vulnerable and flawed.
Where can I download Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf?
You can download Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf from various online sources, such as California Digital Library, Open Library, or Scribd. However, you should be aware that some versions may have errors or omissions, or may not be authorized by the author or his estate. You should also respect the copyright status of the book and use it for personal or educational purposes only.
How did Milovan Djilas write Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf?
Milovan Djilas wrote Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf in secret, while he was under house arrest and surveillance by the Yugoslav secret police. He used a typewriter that he borrowed from a friend, and hid the manuscript in various places, such as under his mattress or in his shoes. He also had to rewrite some parts of the book several times, because some of his papers were confiscated or destroyed by the authorities. He managed to smuggle the manuscript to the West with the help of some foreign journalists and diplomats, who contacted his publisher in New York.
What happened to Milovan Djilas after Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf was published?
After Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf was published, Milovan Djilas was arrested and put on trial for "hostile propaganda" and "counter-revolutionary activity". He was sentenced to seven years in prison, which was later increased to eighteen years. He spent most of his time in solitary confinement, where he continued to write and read. He was released in 1966, after serving nine years, but he was still under strict restrictions and surveillance. He was arrested again in 1974 and 1975 for publishing his memoirs and other books abroad. He was finally freed in 1979, after an international campaign for his release. He died in 1995, at the age of 83.
What are some of the main ideas of Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf?
Some of the main ideas of Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf are:
The new class is a social group that emerges from the communist revolution and takes over the state and the economy. It consists of party officials, bureaucrats, managers, intellectuals, and military officers.
The new class is not a true representative of the working class or the people, but a self-serving elite that exploits and oppresses them. It uses ideology, propaganda, censorship, and terror to maintain its power and privilege.
The new class is not interested in achieving communism or socialism, but in preserving its own status quo. It is conservative, reactionary, and resistant to change. It is also corrupt, decadent, and alienated from reality.
The new class is not only a phenomenon of the Soviet Union or Eastern Europe, but a universal tendency of all modern societies. It can also be found in the West, where it manifests itself as a technocratic or managerial elite.
The new class is doomed to collapse, because it contradicts the historical laws of development and progress. It will face internal contradictions, popular resistance, and external challenges. It will be replaced by a more democratic and humane social order.
What are some of the criticisms of Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf?
Some of the criticisms of Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf are:
The new class is not a coherent or homogeneous social group, but a diverse and complex one. It has different interests, factions, and conflicts within itself. It also has some positive aspects, such as promoting education, culture, and science.
The new class is not a unique or original concept, but a derivative and simplistic one. It borrows from various sources, such as Marxism, sociology, psychology, and history. It also ignores or overlooks other factors, such as culture, religion, ethnicity, and gender.
The new class is not a realistic or accurate description of the communist system, but a biased and exaggerated one. It is based on personal experience and observation, rather than on empirical evidence or analysis. It also generalizes from specific cases or periods, rather than taking into account historical changes or variations.
The new class is not a constructive or helpful contribution to the debate on communism, but a destructive and harmful one. It is motivated by resentment, bitterness, and revenge. It also serves the interests of the enemies of communism, such as imperialism, capitalism, and fascism.
What are some of the influences of Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf?
Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf had a significant impact on the intellectual and political scene of the second half of the twentieth century. It influenced many other dissidents and reformers in Eastern Europe and beyond, who sought to expose the reality and challenge the authority of communism. Some examples are:
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Russian writer and Nobel laureate, who wrote The Gulag Archipelago, a monumental account of the Soviet prison system.
Václav Havel, the Czech playwright and politician, who wrote The Power of the Powerless, an essay on living in truth under totalitarianism.
Lech Wałęsa, the Polish trade union leader and president, who led the Solidarity movement that contributed to the fall of communism in Poland.
Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese writer and activist, who co-authored Charter 08, a manifesto calling for democracy and human rights in China.
What are some of the sources of Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf?
Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf drew from various sources, both theoretical and empirical, to develop its critique of communism. Some of them are:
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the founders of Marxism, who analyzed the class struggle and the historical development of society.
Max Weber, the German sociologist, who studied the rationalization and bureaucratization of modern society.
George Orwell, the British writer, who wrote Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, two dystopian novels that satirized totalitarianism.
Milovan Djilas' own experience and observation, as a former communist leader and prisoner, who witnessed firsthand the corruption and oppression of the system.
What are some of the reviews of Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf?
Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf received mixed reviews from different perspectives and audiences. Some of them are:
Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher and Nobel laureate, praised the book as \"one of the most important political books of our time\" and \"a penetrating analysis of the nature of communism.\" He also expressed his admiration for Djilas as \"a man of courage and integrity.\"
Isaac Deutscher, the Polish-born Marxist historian and biographer of Stalin and Trotsky, criticized the book as \"a superficial and impressionistic work\" and \"a personal confession rather than a political analysis.\" He also accused Djilas of being \"a renegade from communism\" and \"a traitor to his own cause.\"
George F. Kennan, the American diplomat and historian, who formulated the policy of containment against Soviet expansionism, welcomed the book as \"a valuable contribution to our understanding of communism\" and \"a powerful indictment of the Soviet system.\" He also expressed his sympathy for Djilas as \"a victim of communist tyranny.\"
Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader and de-Stalinizer, denounced the book as \"a slanderous fabrication\" and \"a vile provocation against socialism.\" He also declared Djilas as \"an enemy of the people\" and \"a traitor to his country.\"
What are some of the implications of Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf?
Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf had profound implications for the history and future of communism and the world. Some of them are:
It exposed the reality and challenged the legitimacy of communism from within, undermining its ideological and moral foundations.
It inspired and encouraged many other dissidents and reformers in Eastern Europe and beyond, who sought to change or overthrow communism.
It provoked a fierce reaction from the communist authorities, who tried to suppress and discredit it, but also revealed their weakness and vulnerability.
It contributed to the decline and collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, paving the way for democratic transitions and transformations.
Conclusion
Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa.pdf is a remarkable book that offers a unique and insightful perspective on communism and its consequences. It is a personal and political testimony of a man who witnessed and participated in the rise and fall of communism in Yugoslavia and Eastern Europe. It is also a universal and timeless analysis of the nature and dynamics of power and society. It is a book that deserves to be read and studied by anyone who is interested in the history and future of communism and the world. 4e3182286b