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 online international conference to be held in Autumn 2021, and later published by AIIS.

Deadline for paper submission: 9 of September 2021.

For futher information contact: aiis@aiis-albania.org; szekaj@aiis-albania.org.