Word: titos
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Tito "was so attuned to personal power," Djilas writes, "that, in crucial moments he suppressed the forces that would have enriched life, made it more open for the individual and for society." But even were this true, Djilas does not prove that a realistic alternative to Tito's power centralizing existed. Could the state have survived in that era without a strong-handed Tito, when nearly all other developing countries were experiencing continuing civil strife? Djilas must establish this before he can expect better from Tito. Perhaps no one could have improved on his governing...
...book, an easily read translation, uses Tito's rise to power as the background for the analysis. Djilas assumes some familiarity with Yugoslavian history on the part of the reader, and at times the details are confusing. Yet to follow Djilas's criticisms of Tito--the major goal of the book--one only needs a rudimentary history knowledge...
...author poses two broad questions which can be used to examine many rules. First, did Tito--or any other leader--have to accumulate so much personal power for the benefit of the state? Second, after the ruler leaves, what happens to the country and is he responsible for the result...
Moreover, Yugoslavia did prosper during Tito's reign. And though Djilas does not credit Tito with these successes, his reasoning lacks credibility. In one paragraph he discounts the nation's economic achievements as compared with the Soviet bloc countries. Djilas says Tito's workmen's management system and all other economic programs did not help; instead, he attributes all of Yugoslavia's prosperity to its superior resources. And he doesn't even mention that Yugoslavia had 35 years of relative peace under Tito. Almost any other country would accept that kind of record...
YUGOSLAVIA'S SURVIVAL without Tito will not be solely the result of the old man's actions. All Latin American rules are not judged incompetent simply because their countries have experienced non-stop turmoil. Yet Djilas uses this faulty logic to conclude that "the achievement makes the man, not the man the achievement." This is false--in any nation. To judge Tito without considering his environment is poor analysis and this is where Djilas fails...