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Call for Papers: 100 years of Albanian-American Relations - Past, Present and Future
The year 2022 marks the centennial anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and the United States of America.
The Albanian state, which proclaimed its independence in 1912, was seriously threatened at the end of the First World War when major European powers supported the elimination of an independent Albania and the division of its territory among its Balkan and European neighbors. At the Peace of Paris, which brought the war to an end, the United States and the Wilson doctrine prevented the dissolution of Albania.
Following this pivotal moment, the relationship between Albania and the United States proved to be influential if not decisive in developing and maintaining democracy, and establishing a western orientation for the small state for over a century.
At the end of the Second World War, the United States refused to recognize the communist regime in Albania and Albanian political leaders began to look eastward.
The Bolshevik regime in Tirana ultimately designated the United States as the principal enemy of the communist republic, the major threat to the security of the country and its sovereignty while they were building an extreme form of dictatorship which isolated the country for nearly half of a century. This orientation proved to be extremely detrimental to Albania and the consequences of that decision continue to be felt even today.
The re-establishment of the diplomatic relations with the USA in 1991 coincided with the destruction of the communist regime and the re-alignment of Albania with the west.
During the 30 years following the fall of the communist regime it is reasonable to conclude that relations with the United States have been, in a significant and substantial way, quite decisive for the construction of a free democratic Albania and its integration into the community of free and democratic states. The relations between Albania and the United States remain asymmetrical, often controversial and almost mythical.
In 1919, a time during which the future of the independent Albanian state was seriously threatened, the most prominent Albanian elite established in the USA the de facto the government of Albania, and proposed a US mandate over Albania, establishing a significant precedent in international relations. In order to preserve Albanian independence Albanian leaders in the diaspora decided to voluntarily subjugate the sovereignty of...
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CALL FOR PAPERS: The 30th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union: reflections on its international implications
“Freedom works!” was what the US State Secretary James Baker said to the more than 300 000 Albanians that had poured over to the streets to witness the very first visit of such a high figure of the American government to Albania in several decades. This was June 22, 1991. Thus, this historical visit symbolically represented the end of the isolationist period for Albania and its reentry to the community of free peoples and countries after suffering for a long time under the last Stalinist regime in Europe.
Three decades ago it was the fall of the Soviet empire (USSR) that in turn brought down the Berlin Wall through the democratic momentum that was made possible only after the end of the Cold War. This in turn kick-started a new era of peace and development based on the principle of individual freedom and freedom of societies and nations to adopt democracy. The collapse of the Soviet Union signaled first and foremost the end of an era when it was possible to repress entire nations. Communism was based on terror, fear and oppression, as best witnessed by Albania, a small country which knew fear like no other.
The collapse of the USSR ended a political, economic and military confrontation putting thus an end to the fear of the nuclear threat that would be the apex of the clash between East and West.
At the global stage, the end of the USRSR 30 years ago, revolutionized the entire system of international relations. The emergence of the United States as the single most important power was decisive for building peace and prosperity and developing democracy especially in Eastern Europe.
The economic, political, socio-cultural, and even religious repercussions are endless and all merit a deep and professional examination. On the 30th anniversary of this dramatic historical event, The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) will participate in the global discussion empowering expert voices that seek to bring forward original works dealing with the implications of the fall of USSR.
Therefore, we seek papers from professors, researchers and other authors that examine various dimensions of these implications and encourage especially those that take a look at this corner of the world, the Balkan region and Albania, and how their democratic development was influenced at that time and afterwards. Selected papers will be presented at an...