Đilas grew up believing in the Marxist promise: that the Revolution would sweep away the old inequalities. The aristocracy and the capitalists would be vanquished. In their place, a "dictatorship of the proletariat" would create a classless society where everyone worked for the common good.
But as Đilas climbed the ladder of power, he noticed a troubling pattern. The old aristocrats were gone, yes. The factory owners had been removed. But they hadn't been replaced by "the people."
They had been replaced by him.
He looked at the privileges he and his comrades enjoyed. They didn't own the factories legally, like the capitalists did, but they controlled them. They lived in the best villas, vacationed at exclusive resorts, and shopped in special stores stocked with Western goods that the ordinary worker could never access.
In the PDF you might find online, Đilas describes this phenomenon with brutal clarity. He realized that the Communist Party, in the process of nationalizing property, had not abolished ownership. It had simply transferred total ownership of the economy into its own hands.
Milovan Đilas's The New Class (original title: Nova klasa) remains one of the most significant internal critiques of the communist system ever written. Published in 1957, it led to the author's imprisonment because it exposed how the party-state bureaucracy had evolved into a new privileged ruling class that controlled all nationalized property. Core Arguments of "The New Class"
The Rise of the Bureaucratic Elite: Đilas argued that instead of creating a classless society, communist revolutions resulted in a "new class" of party officials and bureaucrats who held a monopoly over political and economic power.
Collective Ownership as Private Benefit: Although property was "nationalized," this new class used, enjoyed, and disposed of it as if it were their own collective private property.
Monopoly of Power: This class maintained dominance through total control of the state apparatus, the police, and the military, viewing these institutions as their exclusive weapons.
Ideological Self-Delusion: Members of this class often believed they were working for the proletariat while actually prioritizing their own survival and status. Where to Find the Full Text
The manuscript can be accessed through several academic and archival repositories: SUMMARY OF THE NEW CLASS - by Milovan Djilas - CIA
The "story" of Milovan Djilas and his seminal work, The New Class Nova Klasa
), is a dramatic transformation of a revolutionary hero into his regime's most dangerous critic. The Rise of a Partisan Hero milovan djilas nova klasapdf
Born in Montenegro in 1911, Milovan Djilas was a committed Marxist from his youth, joining the Yugoslav Communist Party in 1932 while studying law. During World War II, he became a legendary figure as a leader of the Partisan resistance
against Nazi and Fascist occupation. By the end of the war, he was one of the "big four" leaders of the new Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, serving as a top aide and likely successor to President Josip Broz Tito The Disillusionment
As Djilas climbed the highest rungs of power, he noticed a disturbing trend. While the revolution promised a classless society, he saw the Communist Party elite becoming a "New Class" of privileged bureaucrats. The Privilege
: These officials held an absolute monopoly over nationalized property and enjoyed luxuries—villas, special stores, and power—that the common worker could never access. The Theoretical Shift
: Djilas began to argue that this bureaucracy was not just a group of administrators but a distinct social class that exploited the masses more thoroughly than the capitalists they had replaced. The Fall and the Manuscript
In 1953, Djilas's public criticisms led to his expulsion from the party. By 1956, he was imprisoned for supporting the Hungarian Revolution. While in and out of prison, he secretly authored his critique, The New Class: An Analysis of the Communist System
The New Class: An Analysis of the Communist System (original Serbian title: Nova klasa) is the most famous work by Milovan Djilas, a former high-ranking Yugoslav official who became one of the most prominent dissidents of the Cold War. Summary of the Book
In this 1957 classic, Djilas argues that the communist revolution did not abolish classes as it claimed. Instead, it replaced the old ruling classes with a "New Class" consisting of the party bureaucracy. This group, he contends, maintains absolute control over the state and its economy, enjoying privileges far beyond those of the workers they claim to represent. Accessing the Text
PDF Versions: You can find full-text copies of the book for study on platforms like Archive.org and Scribd.
Editions: Modern editions, such as the 2023 release by Fokalizator, continue to be published in Serbian/Montenegrin. About the Author
Milovan Djilas was once a vice-president of Yugoslavia and a close aide to Josip Broz Tito. His public criticism of the regime led to his expulsion from the Communist Party in 1954 and several subsequent imprisonments. The New Class was smuggled out of Yugoslavia and published in the West, leading to international acclaim and further legal trouble for Djilas at home. The New Class
Today, when a student or a researcher searches for "Milovan Djilas Nova Klasa pdf," they aren't just looking for a history book. They are looking for a warning. Đilas grew up believing in the Marxist promise:
Đilas taught us that bureaucracy can become a parasite. Whether it is a government agency, a massive corporation, or a political party, any group that controls resources without accountability risks becoming a "New Class."
The story of Milovan Đilas is the story of a man who gave up his seat at the head of the table to tell the truth about who was actually eating. His book remains a masterclass in understanding how power disguises itself as service.
Milovan Djilas The New Class Nova Klasa is a landmark political work published in 1957 that provided the first internal critique of the communist system by a high-ranking official. Writing from a Yugoslav prison, Djilas argued that despite the promise of a classless society, communist revolutions actually gave birth to a "new class" of political bureaucrats. Core Thesis: The Rise of the Bureaucratic Elite
Djilas's central argument is that the abolition of private property did not end class exploitation; instead, it transferred ownership from private capitalists to the state, which was then "owned" and exploited by a new administrative elite. Definition of the "New Class"
: This group consists of party officials, government bureaucrats, and military leaders. They derive their power and privileges not from personal wealth, but from their monopoly over political authority and the administration of nationalized property. The Power Mechanism
: Unlike historical ruling classes, the new class maintains dominance through institutional structures like party bureaus and economic planning bodies, operating without genuine accountability to the public. Betrayal of Ideals
: Djilas contended that while early revolutionaries were often idealistic heroes, their successors became "self-centered cowards" willing to sacrifice everything—honor, name, and truth—to maintain their place in the hierarchy. Detailed Analysis of the Communist System
The book offers a detached and lucid critique of the system's various facets:
The Concept of the New Class: Understanding Milovan Đilas' Critique of Communist Elites
Milovan Đilas, a Yugoslavian communist politician and writer, is best known for his critical analysis of the communist system and the rise of a new ruling class. His seminal work, "The New Class: An Analysis of the Communist System" (Nova Klasa in Serbian), published in 1957, provides a scathing critique of the communist elite and its corrupting influence on the socialist system. This article will explore Đilas' concept of the new class, its implications for communist societies, and the relevance of his ideas in contemporary politics.
The Rise of the New Class
Đilas' central argument is that the communist system, which was supposed to eliminate social classes and establish a classless society, paradoxically gave rise to a new ruling class. This new class, comprising high-ranking party officials, bureaucrats, and managers, accumulated power and privileges, exploiting the system for their own benefit. Đilas contended that this new class was not only a departure from the original ideals of socialism but also a betrayal of the working class, which had been the supposed beneficiary of the communist revolution. Consequences of the New Class Đilas argued that
The new class, according to Đilas, emerged due to the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals, who used their positions to acquire wealth, influence, and status. This led to a system of cronyism, nepotism, and corruption, where the ruling elite controlled the means of production, distribution, and communication. The new class became a self-serving entity, more concerned with maintaining its power and privileges than with serving the interests of the people.
Characteristics of the New Class
Đilas identified several key characteristics of the new class:
Consequences of the New Class
Đilas argued that the emergence of the new class had severe consequences for communist societies:
Relevance of Đilas' Ideas
The concept of the new class remains relevant today, with implications for politics, economics, and society:
Conclusion
Milovan Đilas' concept of the new class provides a powerful critique of communist systems and the corrupting influence of power. His analysis remains relevant today, offering insights into the nature of elite power, corruption, and inequality. As we reflect on the implications of Đilas' ideas, we are reminded of the need for transparency, accountability, and democratic participation in governance, as well as the importance of protecting the rights and interests of the many against the privileged few.
Download Milovan Đilas' "The New Class" (Nova Klasa) PDF
For those interested in exploring Đilas' ideas in more depth, a PDF version of "The New Class" is available online. This seminal work provides a detailed analysis of the communist system and the rise of the new class, offering a critique of the socialist experiment and its unintended consequences.
By examining Đilas' concept of the new class, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between power, corruption, and inequality, as well as the ongoing struggle for democracy, accountability, and social justice.