Was Communism Losing Ground in Yugoslavia? A 1966 Look at Rising Consumerism

A 1966 news analysis from Morgunblaðið pondered a pressing question: Was communism losing its grip in Yugoslavia? The article, referencing a U.S. News & World Report piece, suggested that the communist system in Yugoslavia was faltering more rapidly than in other nations.

Evidence for this assertion came from observations of increasing personal freedoms and a burgeoning desire among citizens for private car ownership. The report detailed how individuals and families were prioritizing the purchase of vehicles, often making significant financial sacrifices. Young couples, earning around $100 monthly, would live in single-room apartments to save for a car's down payment. Many Yugoslavs also sought work in West Germany or France, diligently saving to bring a car back home, while farmers abandoned their land to work in factories abroad, aiming to buy tractors or trucks.

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Communism is retreating in Yugoslavia faster than in any other country in the world. A tourist from Western Europe gets this impression by traveling across the country, talking to officials, workers, managers, engineers, economists, editors – people from any walk of life in society.

"Every man who does not own a car seems to be saving money to be able to buy one," the article stated, illustrating the widespread aspiration. This focus on individual accumulation and consumer goods appeared to signal a departure from traditional communist tenets, indicating a society increasingly influenced by Western consumer culture and individualistic pursuits.

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Every man who does not own a car seems to be saving money to be able to buy one. Young couples, both working and earning a combined salary of about $100 (about 6,680 ISK), often live in a one-room apartment so they can save enough to pay a 20% down payment on a car.