• 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...

  • Call for Papers: Albanian-American Relations - Past, Present and Future

    Suggested topics

    (Please note that this list is nonrestrictive, papers and contributions on other relevant issues are welcome)

    • Theoretical examinations: foreign policy models of small states, myths in foreign policy making and understanding, etc.
    • Historical examinations: historical analysis of the Albanian-American relations in key moments and key junctions of history (American-Albanian relations and US influence over Albania in WW I, Peace Conference and Wilson administration, WWII, Cold War, transition and democratization years, etc.)
    • Albanian-American relations in the context of Kosova
    • Albanian diaspora in the United States – Albanian community now and then (historical role on state formation and preserving, elite contributions, etc.)
    • Albanian-American relations in the context of the Balkans and Europe
    • Examinations over contemporary relations and exchanges: economy, culture
    • The Future of Albanian American relations.

    For more detailed information, please contact Alba Çela at acela@aiis-albania.org

    Albania, despite being a micro-state from the perspective of international relations, has always sought to claim an ‘exclusive’ relationship with a global power such as the United States.

    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...

Testimonials

Daniel P. Serwer

Albania has made tremendous progress in the last twenty years and is moving smartly towards its European home. AIIS is both a cause and a consequence. Its sharp analytical focus on the world beyond Tirana has helped what was once one of the most isolated countries on earth, become an active contributor to the international order. These have been marvelously productive years for both Albania and its leading institute!

 

Daniel P. Serwer

 

Bernd J. Fischer

The Albanian Institute for International Studies, through its many conferences and publications, has become the leading organization of its kind in Albania and an important contributor to the discussion of a broad range of issues in the Balkans in general. It has provided a forum for in-country specialists and established important contacts with analysts and policymakers throughout the Balkans and the Western world. AIIS has made an important contribution to regional and general understanding of issues facing the Balkans. 

Bernd J. Fischer

Charles King

AIIS is at the center of Albania ’s small group of independent think tanks. The Institute’s extensive speaker program and publishing projects have been central to building a base of qualified, non-governmental experts in defense policy, security affairs, and political analysis.

Charles King

Assistant Professor of Foreign Service and Government, Georgetown University

Paolo Quercia

The Albanian institute of International Studies is one of the most professional, brilliant and active think tanks of the Balkans. In these years AIIS staff made a great work in contributing to promote regional cooperation and understanding among scholars and academician who have different views over the transition of the Balkans from post-communism and ethnic conflicts towards liberal democracy and the European commonwealth. Our institute has cooperated both in Italy and in Albania in organizing successful scientific and institutional events with AIIS. I hope that this cooperation can be strengthened in the future, especially for enhancing Italian – Albanian bilateral relations.

Paolo Quercia

Director of Research for South Eastern Europe , Italian Military Center for Strategic Studies, Rome

Prof. Dr. Franz-Lothar Altmann

I feel honoured to congratulate the Albanian Institute for International Studies to its 10th anniversary! It is difficult to realize that this institution exists now only for 10 years because its impact on Albanian politics and in particular its reputation abroad gives one the feeling that this must be an old institution with long tradition! In fact, the institute has managed to become the number one address for interested international individuals and institutions who intend to communicate and cooperate with a competent and at the same time impartial partner on issues of common interest in the field of international politics and relations. I am proud to express my scholarly contacts with AIIS over so many years and can only underline how important it is for a country that tries to place itself amidst the European integration to possess an institution with such an international reputation and variety of connections abroad! The events, which had been organized by AIIS in Albania over the past years had always been characterized by high profiles of the invited participants, and have contributed to better understanding of the peculiarities of the Albanian situation domestically and in international relations. Let me wish the AIIS further success in all its future activities!

Prof. Dr. Franz-Lothar Altmann

Fellow A. S. Onassis Foundation, Athens and University of Bucharest

Janusz Bugajski

Since its inception, the Albanian Institute of International Studies has played an important role in Albanian society. As the leading Albanian policy-focused institute, it has promoted debate on critical foreign policy and security issues, it has had an impact in policy making by bringing together decision makers and policy analysts in Albania with their foreign counterparts, and it has promoted a regional network of analysts to enhance regional cooperation and regional security.

Janusz Bugajski

 

Dr. Daniel N. Nelson

AIIS energetically sought to deepen and widen Albania ’s foreign policy and national security debate. The AIIS is the most serious think tank devoted to such topics. This institute has spawned public discussion about not just events in the Balkans, but wider European and Global issues. In a political milieu fraught with deep schism and vehement loyalties AIIS is known by both socialist and Democratic Party governments as a principal source of international information and contacts and is respected by international NGOs and foreign diplomats in Tirana. 

Dr. Daniel N. Nelson 

Senior Fellow, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Washington , DC