In search of democracy in socialism

the long version

From the Blurb: This book is written by a prominent dissident Marxist philosopher. It presents a radical critique of Marxist theory and practice in contemporary communist societies in Eastern Europe, based upon his experience in Yugoslavia. Among the lively issues that Stojanovic examines are: the ambiguities of Marx's theory of history and its vulnerability to ideological distortion, the problem of charisma, the legacy of Stalinism, the ideological consciousness of the statist ruling class in the USSR, the experience of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and the moral issues faced by the communist revolutionary who parts ways with his Party. Throughout, Stojanovic defends a humanist interpretation of Marxism and a passionate commitment to democratic socialism. The author discusses the opportunities for the realization of a genuinely democratic socialist order in Yugoslavia today and reaffirms his conviction that the protection of the dignity of the human individual, even in the most difficult of circumstances, is the paramount condition of socialism.