Albania
Subtitle: from anarchy to a Balkan identity
By: Miranda Vickers, James Pettifer.
Contributors: Pettifer, James.
Edition: [2nd ed.].
Publisher: New York University Press
Published: 2000
Place of publication: Washington Square, New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 326
Subjects: Albania -- Politics and government -- 1990-
Description: Situated between Greece on the south, the former Yugoslavia on the north and east, and the Adriatic Sea on the west, Albania is the country the world forgot. Throughout this century, Albania has been perceived as primitive and isolationist by its neighbors to the west. When the country ended fifty years of communist rule in 1992, few outsiders took interest. Deemed unworthy of membership ion the European Union and overlooked by multinational corporations, Albania stands today as one of the poorest and most ignored countries in Europe. Miranda Vickers and James Pettifer take us behind the veil of former President Enver Hoxha's isolationist policies to examine the historic events leading up to Albania's transition to a parliamentary government. Beginning with Hoxha's death in 1985, Albania traces the last decade of Albania's shaky existence, from the anarchy and chaos of the early nineties to the victory of the Democratic Alliance in 192 and the programs of the current government. The authors provide us with an analysis of how the moral, economic, political and cultural identity of the Albanian people is being redefined, and leave no question that the future of Albania is inextricably linked to the future of the Balkans as a whole.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 307-309) and index.