The fundamental argument of The New Class flips Marxist theory on its head. Marx argued that the state is a tool of the ruling economic class (the bourgeoisie) to suppress the proletariat. Đilas argued that in a Communist system, a new ruling class emerges that is more oppressive than the capitalists it replaced.
Who is the New Class? Đilas identifies the "New Class" not as the factory owners, but as the party bureaucracy. This class is defined by its collective ownership of the means of production.
In a capitalist society, a factory owner has individual ownership. In a communist state, the state owns the factories. But who controls the state? The party bureaucracy. Therefore, the bureaucracy effectively owns the wealth of the nation, disguised as "social property."
Đilas writes:
"The new class may be said to be made up of those who have special privileges and economic preference because of the administrative monopoly they hold."
In the history of political thought, few books have caused as much immediate upheaval as The New Class: An Analysis of the Communist System (Nova Klasa), written by Milovan Đilas in 1957.
Đilas was not an external critic or a Western Cold Warrior. He was the Vice President of Yugoslavia under Josip Broz Tito, a man who had fought the Nazis and helped build the very communist state he eventually dismantled ideologically. When fragments of the book were smuggled to the West and published, Đilas was imprisoned. The book itself became one of the most important texts of the 20th century, offering the first insider’s critique of the "actually existing" socialism of the Soviet bloc.
For those searching for a PDF or summary of the work, the core value lies not just in its historical dissent, but in its sociological prediction of how modern bureaucracies function.
Milovan Đilas’s Nova klasa (The New Class), first published in serial form in the early 1950s and later as a book, is a foundational critique of communist systems written by one of Yugoslavia’s most prominent dissidents. Đilas (1911–1995), a wartime partisan, high-ranking Yugoslav official, and intellectual, turned sharply against the concentration of power he once helped build. Nova klasa analyzes how a bureaucratic ruling elite — the “new class” — emerges within nominally classless, socialist societies and how that elite reproduces privilege, undermines egalitarian ideals, and creates stable authoritarian structures.
Background
Core argument
Key themes
Method and style
Impact and reception
Contemporary relevance
Conclusion Nova klasa is both a historical document and a theoretical tool: historically, it testifies to internal critiques of communist regimes in the mid-20th century; theoretically, it provides a concise, persuasive account of how revolutionary movements can ossify into privileged administrative classes. Đilas’s courageous turn from insider to critic ensured the work’s place in discussions of power, equality, and the conditions that sustain or subvert democratic and socialist ideals.
Related search suggestions (These terms may help you find primary texts, translations, or scholarly commentary.)
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 scathing critique of the communist system and its inherent tendency to create a new class of privileged elites. In his seminal work, "The New Class," Đilas argues that the communist revolution, which aimed to eliminate social and economic inequalities, ultimately gave rise to a new class of powerful and corrupt officials who exploited their positions for personal gain. This article will explore Đilas' concept of the "new class," its characteristics, and the implications of his critique for our understanding of communist systems.
The Rise of the New Class
Đilas' work, first published in 1957, was a product of his disillusionment with the Yugoslavian communist regime, which he had initially supported. As a high-ranking official in the Yugoslavian Communist Party, Đilas had become increasingly frustrated with the corruption, nepotism, and abuse of power within the party. He realized that the communist revolution, which had promised to create a classless society, had instead created a new class of privileged individuals who wielded enormous power and influence.
According to Đilas, the new class emerged as a result of the communist party's need to create a bureaucracy to manage the socialist economy. This bureaucracy, composed of party officials, managers, and other high-ranking individuals, gradually developed its own interests and privileges, which diverged from those of the working class. The new class was characterized by its control over the means of production, its privileged access to resources and goods, and its ability to manipulate the system for personal gain.
Characteristics of the New Class
Đilas identifies several key characteristics of the new class:
Implications of Đilas' Critique
Đilas' critique of the new class has significant implications for our understanding of communist systems. His work highlights the inherent contradictions within communist ideology, which aims to create a classless society but ultimately gives rise to a new class of privileged elites. The concept of the new class also underscores the dangers of unchecked power and corruption within bureaucratic systems.
Moreover, Đilas' critique challenges the notion that communist systems are inherently more equal or just than capitalist systems. In fact, Đilas argues that the new class in communist systems often perpetuates its own privilege and power, creating a new form of class exploitation.
Legacy of The New Class
"The New Class" has had a lasting impact on the study of communist systems and the critique of bureaucratic power. Đilas' work has influenced a wide range of scholars, from sociologists and economists to political scientists and historians. The concept of the new class has been applied to various contexts, including the Soviet Union, China, and Eastern Europe. milovan djilas nova klasapdf
In conclusion, Milovan Đilas' concept of the new class provides a powerful critique of communist systems and the dangers of bureaucratic power. His work highlights the need for greater transparency, accountability, and democratic participation in all systems of governance. As we continue to grapple with the challenges of inequality, corruption, and authoritarianism, Đilas' critique remains a timely and thought-provoking analysis of the human condition.
Milovan Đilas and the Yugoslavian Context
To understand Đilas' work, it is essential to consider the Yugoslavian context in which he wrote. Yugoslavia, a socialist federal republic, was established after World War II, with Josip Broz Tito as its leader. The Yugoslavian communist party, led by Tito, had initially implemented a radical socialist program, which included land reform, nationalization of industries, and collectivization of agriculture.
However, by the 1950s, Yugoslavia had begun to liberalize its economy and politics, introducing elements of market socialism and decentralization. Đilas, who had been a close ally of Tito, became increasingly disillusioned with the regime's corruption and abuse of power. His critique of the new class was, in part, a response to these developments.
The New Class in the Digital Age
The concept of the new class remains relevant in the digital age, where issues of inequality, corruption, and authoritarianism continue to plague societies around the world. The digital revolution has created new opportunities for the concentration of power and wealth, as well as new mechanisms for surveillance and control.
In this context, Đilas' critique of the new class serves as a reminder of the need for greater transparency, accountability, and democratic participation in all systems of governance. As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, Đilas' work provides a valuable perspective on the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of protecting human rights and freedoms.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Milovan Đilas' concept of the new class provides a powerful critique of communist systems and the dangers of bureaucratic power. His work highlights the need for greater transparency, accountability, and democratic participation in all systems of governance. As we continue to grapple with the challenges of inequality, corruption, and authoritarianism, Đilas' critique remains a timely and thought-provoking analysis of the human condition.
To access the PDF version of Milovan Đilas' book, "The New Class," interested readers can search online for "Milovan Đilas nova klasa pdf" or explore digital libraries and archives that host communist and socialist texts.
References
By understanding Đilas' concept of the new class and its implications, we can better navigate the complexities of power, corruption, and inequality in modern societies. As we reflect on the lessons of the past, we can work towards building more just, equal, and democratic societies for the future.
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
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
A Guide to Milovan Djilas' "The New Class"
Introduction
Milovan Djilas, a Yugoslavian communist politician and writer, published "The New Class" in 1957. This influential book critiques the rise of a new elite class within communist societies, particularly in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Djilas argues that this new class, comprising high-ranking party officials and bureaucrats, exploits its position to accumulate power and privilege, undermining the original ideals of socialism and communism.
Key Concepts
The Rise of the New Class
Djilas outlines the historical context in which the new class emerged:
Characteristics of the New Class
Djilas describes the new class as having several key characteristics: The fundamental argument of The New Class flips
Consequences and Critique
Djilas critiques the new class for:
Impact and Legacy
"The New Class" has had a significant impact on the critique of communist and socialist systems:
Conclusion
Milovan Djilas' "The New Class" provides a critical analysis of the rise of a new elite class within communist societies. The book highlights the contradictions between the original ideals of socialism and the realities of communist systems, where a powerful new class accumulates wealth, privilege, and control. As a critique of communist systems, "The New Class" remains a significant work in understanding the shortcomings of Soviet-style communism.
“The new class is a class of special privileges and exclusive rights… it appropriates for itself the ownership of the means of production in the name of the people.”
“What is happening today is not the building of communism, but the formation of a new class of owners, disguised as servants of the people.”
If you need a critical analysis or a comparison with other works (e.g., Orwell’s Animal Farm, Burnham’s The Managerial Revolution), let me know and I can provide more depth.
You're looking for information on Milovan Djilas' concept of the "New Class"!
Here's a solid piece:
The New Class: A Study in the Power Structure of Modern Yugoslavia
Written by Milovan Djilas, a Yugoslav communist politician and theorist, in 1957, "The New Class" is a critical analysis of the rise of a new ruling class in socialist Yugoslavia. Djilas, who was a close associate of Josip Broz Tito, argues that a new bureaucratic class had emerged in Yugoslavia, which had supplanted the old bourgeoisie.
According to Djilas, this "New Class" was characterized by its control over the means of production, its privileged position within the party and state apparatus, and its increasingly parasitic relationship with the working class. He contended that this new elite had become isolated from the masses and had developed its own interests, which often conflicted with those of the working class.
Djilas' work was influenced by his disillusionment with the failures of socialist Yugoslavia to live up to its revolutionary ideals. He believed that the New Class had become a reactionary force, stifling social and economic progress, and that it was necessary to undertake radical reforms to re-establish a more egalitarian and democratic socialism.
Key points:
Influence and relevance:
Djilas' work, "The New Class," has had a significant impact on socialist and communist thought, influencing critiques of bureaucratic socialism and the rise of dissident movements in Eastern Europe. His analysis remains relevant today, as it speaks to the ongoing challenges of building a more democratic and egalitarian society.
Milovan Djilas 's " The New Class: An Analysis of the Communist System
" (originally Nova klasa) is a seminal political work published in 1957. It is famous for being one of the first internal critiques of Communism by a high-ranking official within the party. Core Argument
Djilas argues that instead of creating a "classless society," Communist revolutions resulted in the emergence of a "New Class".
Definition: This class consists of the political bureaucracy (party officials) who, while not "owning" property in the traditional sense, exercise total control over nationalized property and resources.
Power Dynamics: This group uses its monopoly on power to secure privileges, wealth, and status, effectively replacing the old capitalist class with a new, more absolute ruling elite.
Totalitarianism: The book describes how this new class maintains control through a combination of administrative management, ideological dogmatism, and police force. Historical Significance
Author's Background: Djilas was a top Yugoslav leader and close associate of Josip Broz Tito before his disillusionment and subsequent imprisonment.
Impact: The book was a bestseller in the West and translated into over 60 languages. It became a foundational text for anti-Communist thought and internal dissent within the Eastern Bloc.
Legacy: It is still studied for its insights into how power structures consolidate within revolutionary movements. Finding the PDF
You can find digital versions or summaries of the work on platforms such as: "The new class may be said to be
Scribd: Often hosts community-uploaded PDF and TXT versions.
Internet Archive: Frequently contains historical public domain or library-scanned copies of political classics.
Academic Repositories: Many university libraries provide access to digital copies for students and researchers. Milovan Đilas Nova Klasa PDF - Scribd
Essay Title: The Heretic’s Blueprint: Milovan Djilas and the Critique of Bureaucratic Privilege
Milovan Djilas occupies a unique and tragic position in the history of political thought: he was the maker of a revolution who became its most penetrating critic. A close comrade of Josip Broz Tito and a key figure in the Yugoslav Partisan struggle against fascism, Djilas rose to the highest echelons of Communist power only to be imprisoned by the regime he helped build. His seminal work, The New Class: An Analysis of the Communist System (1957), written from prison, is not merely a memoir of disillusionment but a structural critique that fundamentally challenged the socialist project. In it, Djilas argues that the revolution had been hijacked, not by a return to capitalism, but by the creation of a new form of exploitative class: the political bureaucracy.
The central thesis of The New Class is deceptively simple yet profoundly radical. Orthodox Marxism posited a binary historical struggle between the bourgeoisie (owners of capital) and the proletariat (workers). Following the abolition of private property, Marx predicted a “withering away of the state” and the emergence of a classless society. Djilas, drawing on his experience inside the Kremlin’s sphere of influence, observed the opposite: the state did not wither; it grew into a monstrous, omnipotent organism. He argued that in communist systems, the means of production are nominally owned by the public, but real control—the power to allocate resources, determine wages, and dictate policy—is monopolized by a small group of party officials and state administrators.
This group, according to Djilas, constitutes a “new class.” Its ownership is not legal but political. Their capital is not money but privilege, access, and control. They secure their position not through inheritance of land or factories, but through party membership, ideological loyalty, and command over the bureaucratic apparatus. Djilas writes that “ownership is nothing more than the right to profit from something,” and under communism, the bureaucracy exclusively possesses this right. They live in better apartments, drive state-issued cars, send their children to elite schools, and enjoy food and goods unavailable to the ordinary worker—all under the guise of serving the people.
What makes The New Class so devastating is its rejection of the communist regime’s own justification: that it represents a “dictatorship of the proletariat.” Djilas turns this phrase on its head, arguing that the reality is a “dictatorship over the proletariat.” The revolution, he claims, was carried out in the name of the working class, but the result was the subjugation of the working class to a new master. The communist revolution is thus the first revolution in history where the oppressed class (the peasantry and proletariat) succeeded in overthrowing the old order only to see the fruits of victory stolen by a revolutionary elite that then became a new oppressor.
Djilas distinguishes this “new class” from the old bourgeoisie in several critical ways. First, the old bourgeoisie justified its power through economic productivity and market competition; the new class justifies itself through ideology and monopoly power. Second, the old bourgeoisie could be entered through wealth creation; the new class can only be entered through political co-optation by the party. Third, the old bourgeoisie, for all its faults, eventually allowed for legal opposition and private spheres of life; the new class demands total ideological conformity, erasing the line between public duty and private thought. In Djilas’s view, the communist bureaucracy is more totalitarian than any capitalist ruling class because it tolerates no independent centers of power—no independent unions, courts, or media.
The implications of this thesis are far-reaching. Djilas predicted that the Soviet Union and its satellites were not moving toward a classless utopia but toward a stable, exploitative system of “state capitalism” or “bureaucratic feudalism.” He argued that this system would not collapse from economic inefficiency alone, because the new class would use police power to maintain its privileges. Instead, he believed change could only come from two sources: a revolt of the intellectuals (who see the hypocrisy most clearly) or a war between communist states (as bureaucratic interests clash). The latter proved eerily prescient in light of the Sino-Soviet split, while the former was realized in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956—which was occurring as Djilas wrote.
However, The New Class is not without its limitations. Critics from the left, such as C. Wright Mills, admired Djilas’s courage but noted that he remained a “Leninist without a party”—he still believed in the socialist ideal, just not its Stalinist perversion. More substantive critiques argue that Djilas overgeneralizes from the Yugoslav and Soviet cases. He treats the “new class” as a monolith, ignoring internal divisions, elite competition, and the genuine, if limited, welfare gains that communist regimes provided in education, healthcare, and industrialization. Furthermore, the book offers little practical strategy for overcoming the new class beyond a vague hope for democratic socialism.
Nevertheless, the historical resonance of The New Class is undeniable. It provided a vocabulary for anti-communist dissidents throughout the Cold War, offering an explanation for why life under “actually existing socialism” felt so oppressive. It anticipated the concept of the nomenklatura—the Soviet list of privileged managerial posts. It influenced later theories of “bureaucratic collectivism” and even modern analyses of how political elites in non-democratic states capture national resources. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, many observers noted that the new class simply transformed into a new capitalist class, selling state assets to themselves—a transition Djilas would have recognized instantly.
In conclusion, The New Class endures not as a perfect economic treatise, but as a work of moral and political prophecy. Milovan Djilas had the rare courage to look at the system he loved and see its monstrous reflection. He showed that power does not vanish with the abolition of private property; it merely changes clothes. The bureaucracy, in its drab gray suits and party credentials, became the new aristocracy. While the world has moved beyond the bipolar Cold War of Djilas’s era, his central insight remains painfully relevant: wherever a ruling group seizes control of the state apparatus and uses public ownership for private privilege, a “new class” is born. The essay is a warning, written in blood and ink, that the dream of equality is perpetually threatened by the bureaucratic will to rule.
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
The complete English text of Milovan Djilas 's seminal work, " The New Class: An Analysis of the Communist System,
" is available for viewing and download through several archival and educational platforms. Access to the Full Text
The complete PDF of "The New Class" is available on Archive.org.
A digital copy with marginalia and underlining from Hannah Arendt's personal library is available via Bard College. A study guide and analysis can be accessed on Academia.edu. Key Concepts and Context
Djilas, a former high-ranking Yugoslav official, argued that Communist revolutions created a new political bureaucracy that controlled nationalized property.
This new class gained power from a monopoly over administration and decision-making.
The book was published in the U.S. in 1957 and translated into 50 languages.
The text marks Djilas's shift toward democratic socialism and criticism of the party-state system.
Additional information on Djilas's other works, such as Conversations with Stalin, is also available. New Class, The - Encyclopedia.com
Milovan Djilas, a former high-ranking Communist official in Yugoslavia and close associate of Josip Broz Tito, wrote The New Class after being imprisoned for his dissident views. The book is a political critique of the Soviet-type system, arguing that communism did not abolish class but instead created a new ruling class—the party bureaucracy.