This work offers neither a chronological narrative of recent Yugoslav history nor a diagrammatic analysis of Yugoslav political institutions. Rather, it is an exercise in interpretation, in which I have tried to cross the distance between theory and practice in Yugoslav socialism and to speculate on alternative resolutions to the problems involved. Because much of my research was based on interviews and conversations with, as well as observations of, ordinary Yugoslavs, I wish to acknowledge my debt to the ten Belgrade families and to the many other Yugoslav friends and colleagues who helped me during my year in Yugoslavia by opening up themselves and their society to me. Even though my conclusions may differ from many of theirs, I hope that I have presented their views fairly.

Two of my former professors at Columbia University have helped me greatly with their friendship, their advice, and their encouragement: Dankwart A. Rustow, now at The City University of New York, whose own work acts as a model of breadth of knowledge and clarity of style, and Donald J. Puchala, who exemplifies the ideal of a good teacher. I wish to thank another of my former professors, Zbigniew Brzezinski, director of the Research Institute on Communist Affairs at Columbia University, for his continued support and encouragement, and to acknowledge guidance from two Yugoslav mentors, Professor Najdan Pašić of Belgrade University and Professor Josip Županov of Zagreb University. John C. Leggett of Rutgers University carefully read the manuscript and offered helpful suggestions.