Jump to content

Albania: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Line 270: Line 270:
*[[The Jewish Community of Albania]]
*[[The Jewish Community of Albania]]
*[[Norman Wisdom]] (non-native comedian popular in Albania)
*[[Norman Wisdom]] (non-native comedian popular in Albania)
*[[Arbëreshë]]


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 22:31, 26 August 2006

Republic of Albania
Republika e Shqipërisë
Motto: "Free and strong"
Anthem: Rreth Flamurit të Përbashkuar
("United Around the Flag")
Location of Albania
Capital
and largest city
Tirana
Official languagesAlbanian
GovernmentEmerging democracy
• President
Alfred Moisiu
Sali Berisha
Independence 
From Ottoman Empire
• Date
November 28, 1912
• Water (%)
4.7
Population
• 2005 estimate
3,130,000 (134th)
GDP (PPP)2005 estimate
• Total
$16.9 billion (116th)
• Per capita
$4,764 (104th)
HDI (2003)0.780
high (72nd)
CurrencyLek (ALL)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+2 (CEST)
Calling code355
ISO 3166 codeAL
Internet TLD.al
This article is about Albania, the country on the Adriatic coast of the Balkans. For other historic uses, see Albania (disambiguation).

The Republic of Albania, (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë, IPA [ɾɛˈpubliˌka ɛ ˌʃcipəˈɾis]) is a Balkan country in southeastern Europe. It borders Montenegro in the northwest, Serbia (Kosovo) in the north, the Republic of Macedonia in the east, and Greece in the south. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea in the west (is divided from Italy through the Strait of Otranto) and a coast on the Ionian Sea in the southwest. Despite having a troubled history, since the 1990s the country has been classified as an emerging democracy.

History

Main articles: Illyria, Illyricum, Dalmatia, and History of Albania

The earlier inhabitants of the region were part of the population that occupied the coastline of most of the Mediterranean. Their physical remains are scarce, and concentrated on the coastal region.

These inhabitants were overrun by the Proto-Hellenic tribes that gradually occupied modern-day Greece. The southern parts of this region are now the Republic of Macedonia and the south of present-day Albania. This process was completed over the second millennium BCE and did not really affect northern or central Albania, which at the time presented the image of a political vacuum (in essence a historical paradox).

Illyria

Historians disagree about the origin of the Illyrians. Some of them maintain that Illyrians descended from the pre-Indo-European Pelasgians, while most place them in the later wave of Indo-European invasions. Their presence can be traced back to the formulation of their political structure in the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. Excellent metal craftsmen and fierce warriors, the Illyrians formed warlord-based kingdoms that fought each-other for most of their history. Only during the 6th century did the Illyrians venture significant raids against their immediate neighbours: the kingdom of the Molossians in Epirus, the kingdom of Macedon, and the kingdom of Paionia.

The theory that modern day Albanians are descendents of the Illyrians, is ;however, widely contested, quite prominently by historical researchers including John Wilkes, who after publishing his historical review "The Illyrians" deduced that Illyrian proponents were marginally more present in Serbs (specifically those in Montenegro, Dalmatia, and Western Serbia) and stated that "Not much reliance should perhaps be placed on attempts to identify an Illyrian anthropological type as short and dark skinned similar to modern day Albanians".

Roman and Byzantine rule

After being conquered by the Roman Empire, Illyria was reorganized as a Roman province, Illyricum, later divided into the provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia, the lands comprising Albania mostly consist of Dalmatia. Later, the Byzantine Empire governed the region. It was also ruled by the Bulgarian and Serbian Empires.

Ottoman rule

Statue of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. Skanderbeg is considered the national hero of Albania

In the Middle Ages, the name Albania (see Origin and history of the name Albania) was increasingly applied to the region now comprising the country of Albania.

From 1443 to 1468 Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg led a successful resistance against the invading Ottomans. After his death, resistance continued until 1478, with only moderate success. The loyalties and alliances created and nurtured by Skanderbeg faltered and fell apart, and the Ottomans conquered the territory shortly after the fall of Kruje castle. Albania then became part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912. Many Albanians fled to neighboring Italy, mostly to Calabria and Sicily.

Balkan Wars

In 1913, at the Conference of Ambassadors in London, it was decided that the Albanian land under Ottoman rule was to be divided between Serbia and Greece. Not all the participants were in favor, so the creation of the self-declared state of Albania was recognized, but more than a half of its territories were given to Serbia and Greece.

After the Second Balkan War, the Ottomans were removed from Albania and there was a possibility of the lands being absorbed by Serbia, and the southern tip by Greece. This decision angered Italy which did not want Serbia to have an extended coastline, and it angered Germany which wanted to build a railway to the Orient. Germany held discussions with Russia and Greece. Eventually, it was decided that the country should not be divided but consolidated into the Principality of Albania under a German prince, William of Wied. But after 6 months the Albanian people expelled the prince, France, Italy and the United Kingdom, as members of the League of Nations, again wanted to divide the territory. United States president Woodrow Wilson vetoed the vote and allowed Albania to retain its status. From 1928, the country was ruled by King Zog I.

World War II and Enver Hoxha Rule

File:Enver.jpg
Enver Hoxha 1908-1985

Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939, meeting little resistance, and took control of the country. Albanian communists and nationalists actively fought a partisan war against the Italian and German invasions in World War II. After the war, the socialists took over. In November 1944 the communists gained control of the government under the leader of the resistance, Enver Hoxha. The Communist Party was created on November 8, 1941 with the help of Bolshevik communist parties.

For the many decades under his domination, Hoxha created and destroyed relationships with Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, and China. The country was isolated, first from the West (Western Europe, North America and Australia) and later even from the communist East.

Fall of Communism, and Democratic Albania

In 1985, Hoxha died and Ramiz Alia took his place. Initially, Alia tried hard to follow in Hoxha's footsteps, but in Eastern Europe changes had already started: Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union had created new policies like glasnost and perestroika. The Albanian regime was under pressure from the US and Europe.

After Nicolae Ceauşescu (the communist leader of Romania) was executed in a revolution in 1989, Alia signed the United Nations Helsinki Agreement (which had already been signed by many other countries in 1975) that respected some human rights. He also allowed pluralism, and even though his party won the election of 1991, it was clear that change would occur. In 1992 general elections were held again and won by the new Democratic Party with 62% of the votes. Alia resigned and Sali Berisha was the first post-communist president elected.

In the general elections of June, 1996 the Democratic Party tried to win an absolute majority and manipulated the results [citation needed], winning over 85% of parliamentary seats.

In 1997 an epidemic of pyramid schemes sent shockwaves through the country's economy, which resulted in widespread riots. Police stations and military bases were looted of millions of Kalashnikovs and other weapons. Anarchy prevailed, and many cities were controlled by militia and even less-organized armed citizens. Even US military advisors left the country for their own safety. The government of Aleksander Meksi resigned and a government of national unity was built. In response to the anarchy, the Socialist Party won the early elections of 1997. Berisha resigned as president.

However, stability was far from restored for years. Power feuds inside the Socialist Party led to a series of short-lived Socialist governments. The country was flooded with refugees from neighboring Kosovo in 1998 and 1999 during the Kosovo War.

In June 2002, a compromise candidate, Alfred Moisiu, a former general, was elected to succeed President Rexhep Meidani. Parliamentary elections in July, 2005 brought back to power Sali Berisha, Leader of the Democratic Party, mostly due to Socialist infighting and a series of corruption scandals plaguing the government of Fatos Nano.

Since 1990 Albania has been diplomatically oriented towards the West: it was accepted to the Council of Europe and has requested membership in NATO. The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany and other parts of Europe, and North America.

Politics

Administrative Divisions

Main article: Counties of Albania

Albania is divided into 12 counties (Albanian-qark), which are further subdivided into 36 districts (Albanian-reth).

The 12 counties are:
1 Berat
2 Dibër
3 Durrës
4 Elbasan
5 Fier
6 Gjirokastër
7 Korçë
8 Kukës
9 Lezhë
10 Shkodër
11 Tiranë
12 Vlorë

Geography

Map of Albania
Albania's Adriatic coastline
Main article: Geography of Albania

Albania consists of mostly hilly and mountainous terrain, with the highest mountain, Korab in the district of Dibra reaching up to 2,753 metres (9,032 ft). The country mostly has a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Besides the capital city of Tirana, with 800,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are Durrës, Elbasan, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, Vlorë, Korçë and Kukës. In Albanian grammar a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: so both Tiranë and Tirana, Shkodër and Shkodra are used.

Tourism

Under Enver Hoxha's isolationist policies hardly any foreigners could enter the country, but since then tourism has increased. Major credit cards are accepted in many places, though bills are often paid in cash or by traveller's cheque. Visitors from many countries no longer need a visa to enter Albania; EU and EFTA member states and many other developed countries are exempt from visa requirements.

Some of the best places to visit Albania are,

  • The city of Saranda (known for its white sandy & clear water beaches)
  • The city of Durres (known for its archicture & beaches)
  • The city of Tirana( known for its archicture, clubs, outdoor restaurants & its modern western lifestyle)
  • The city of Kruje (known for its archicture & the the castle of Skenderbeg)
  • The city of Korca (known for its mountains & ancient villages)
  • The city of Berat (known for its castle, an UNESCO world culture site)
  • The park of Butrint (UNESCO world culture site and nature park)

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Albania

Unusual among Balkan nations, indeed anywhere in the world, is that Albania is a homogeneous country with only small minorities. Most of the population is ethnically Albanian (95% according to the CIA World Factbook Feb 2005). A Greek minority (3% of the population) exists, however it could significantly vary according to other sources, (note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization) [1]). Many ethnic Albanians also live in the bordering countries of Serbia (around 100,000), Kosovo (around 2,000,000), Montenegro (around 50,000), and the Republic of Macedonia (around 500,000)[1]. Also a small number of ethnic Albanians live in Greece and are called Çam or Cham. Claims over Çam numbers have ranged from 20,000 to over 200,000 but are believed to be underestimated because Athens has not considered the local Albanians to be a separate ethnic group.[2] Since 1991, large numbers of Albanians have emigrated to Greece, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and other European countries.

Albanian Orthodox Church in Pogradec
File:Ethem bey xhami.jpg
Et'hem Bey Mosque in central Tirana

The official language in Albania is Albanian, an Indo-European language which forms its own distinct branch.

The Albanians are mostly non-denominational believers. During the communist era religion was prohibited. The Albanian government proclaimed Albania the only officially Atheist country in the world. After the fall of the Communist Regime in 1989–1990, religions were reinstated. According to new post-communist era statistics and census, the Albanian Orthodox (20%), Catholic Church (10%) and Islam (70%) would be the other main religions in Albania. Religious fanaticism has never been a problem, with people from different religious groups living in peace and even inter-marrying. Albanian society today is largely secular and religious fanaticism has not been a problem historically. Intermarriage across religions is common, and a strong sense of Albanian identity has tended to bind Albanians of all religious practice together. [2]

See also: Roman Catholicism in Albania
See also: Albanian Orthodox Church
See also: Islam in Albania

Education

Education has been primarily state education but since 2002 it was allowed to open private universities. The main state universities are:

http://www.unitir.edu.al

http://www.upt.al

http://www.uniel.edu.al
Private universities are:

http://www.umb.edu.al/

http://www.ufouniversity.org

See also: http://www.mash.gov.al

Economy

Main article: Economy of Albania

Despite a multitude of institutional and legislative problems, Tirana is committed to joining the EU. In June 2006, the country signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement as a first step toward joining the European Union. EU ministers urged Albania to push ahead with a plethora of reforms, including press freedom, property rights, institution building, respect for ethnic minorities and observing international standards in municipal elections.

Albania is one of the poorest European states, with a GDP per capita half that of Bulgaria and almost one tenth that of the UK. It is poorly linked by road and rail to its neighbours and between its own cities. In Albania, half of the economically-active population are engaged in agriculture and a fifth works abroad. During the past decade, the Albanian economy has experienced rapid growth. Albania's principal trading partners are Italy, Greece, Turkey, France and Germany.

Albania's coastline on the Ionian Sea, especially near the Greek tourist island of Corfu, is becoming increasingly popular with tourists due to its relatively unspoiled nature and its beaches. The tourism industry is still in its infancy but is growing rapidly.

Growth was strong 2003–05, while inflation, which peaked at 20% in the late nineties, has been tamed.

GDP (purchasing power parity): 18.05 billion Note: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50% of official GDP. (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): 8.741 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (real growth rate): 6% (2005 est.)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 23.6%; industry: 20.5%; services: 55.9% (2005 est.)

Exports: 708 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports: 2.473 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

External Debt: 1.41 billion (2003 est.)

Defense Expenditure: (n/a)

Children in Labour Force: 1% of children aged 10–14 work

Culture

Albanian language and culture were suppressed for almost 400 years during Ottoman rule, although the Turks were never able to totally control the Albanian people.

It is a fact that Albanian ways of life parcelled as they are in districts, regions and even villages unfold a surprisingly large variety of customs, dialects and wear.

History or tradition has it that two brothers named Tosk and Gheg, who lived in times long gone, established their families and spread to what are now recognized as two regions, Tosk-south and Gheg-north. This is symbolically shown in the Albanian national flag by the two headed-eagle. Travelling South to North via the national road you may soon note that people’s attire will gradually vary. A good example of this are the villagers who have kept the old traditions and costume, unlike urban dwellers who strive to globalization. Thus, the traditional dress is still common in rural areas especially noticeable during holidays or as carried by old people. Men wear embroidered white shirts and knee trousers, the Ghegs {north} with a white felt skullcap and the Tosks {south} with flat-topped white fezzes.

Speaking about customs or creeds, we can’t help but mention the Kanun code of behaviour. This or other counterpart laws, coming through ages from the post Scanderberg area, used to be a strong tradition in south and north alike. Kanun law came to be set up as an alternative answer of the people who deprived of a proper Albanian rule, and reluctant to accept a foreign one, created their own. As a phenomenon it is not unknown in other parts of Europe, but when in these countries you can now only read about such things as blood feuds in history books, in Albania it is a painful bizarre reality of everyday life. This law is alive and strong only in the North, where honour is "not a breath of air". There we can still see locked behind the bars of the straight kullas {typical mountainous area buildings in the north} whole families who stay there for fear that their beloved may be killed.

Another British writer and traveller, Mrs. Edith Durham has travelled through these regions pretty much and has written about Albania and its customs. {‘’High Albania’’ available at Stefan Centre's library}.

It is a common view that Albanians have a strong tradition of hospitality. If you are hospitable and respect your guest than you have a "white" heart, which stands as the Albanian version for the English "golden heart" or being generous in spite of life conditions. By way of illustration we could mention the famous expression of the "bread, salt and good heart". It means that there is always an open door and a hearth offered with sincerity. Albanians can be described as loyal, strong and friendly although it takes some time to really know them. They maintain strong family ties and have a special feeling for home like people anywhere in the Balkans generally do.

A very interesting tradition is the marriage ceremony organized in the villages.

Miscellaneous topics

Notes

  1. ^ 2002 census results in English and Macedonian (PDF)
  2. ^ http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-42625

External links

  • Accommodation no profit in Albania
  • News and Fun from Albania Albanian Language
  • List of Albanian flags throughout history
  • Albania and the Balkans Discussion Forum
  • Preserving Albanian Heritage: Byzantine Catholics in Italy
  • Albanian Etymological Dictionary
  • "Albania". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency.

Official government websites

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&oldid=72082723"