Books

Ceshtja Kombetare Shqiptare
Elez Biberaj

Almost a century after the Great Powers reshaped the map of South East Europe and recognized the independence of a curtailed Albania in 1913, the Albanian question, due to the latest armed conflicts in Kosovo and Macedonia, is once more receiving the attention of the international community, as an important aspect to peace and stability in the Western Balkans. The book focuses on the external and internal dynamics of the Albanian question, evaluating the impact of political, ideological, ethnic and regional factors. 

Shqipëria 1943-1945
Bernd Fischer

This book offers an overview of the Albanian society during the Second World War through two Western documents: Final report of special mission at Tirana and Final report of the German Wehrmacht in Albania. The document is divided into three major sections: 1- The organization of the German Administration and its evolution; 2- Political Developments and 3- The duties of the administration.

Enver Hoxha dhe diktatura staliniste ne Shqiperi
Bernd J. Fischer

Although more than two decades have passed, the totalitarian heritage still looms large in Albania’s present by hampering the country’s future. Fischer’s book gives a detailed overview over many aspects of the Stalinist dictatorship in Albania.   

King Zog and the struggle for stability in Albania
Bernd Fischer

As a comprehensive panorama of King Zog's rule in Albania, the book traces King Zog's path towards political power and the challenges faced by him and the country during this troubled period of the Albanian history. He starts by describing the political struggle for power, the efforts to bring stability in Albania and the subsequent demise of Zog’s rule and his legacy. 

Shqiperia ne tranzicion
Elez Biberaj

This book is the result of Elez Biberaj’s several years of research into the domestic and foreign policy of Albania. The author has portrayed the atmosphere of political culture in Albania, especially among political parties from the beginnings of the Albanian democracy in 1990-1992 until 2010. The book illustrates the systematic efforts of the author to resolve the threads of the complex relationship between the Albanian domestic and foreign policy, by giving an accurate overview of the most important political developments in Albania’s post-communist era.

Albania in the next ten years: Envisioning the future   

The Albanian Institute for International Studies, in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Albania organized the international symposium: Albania in the Next Ten Years – Envisioning the Future, which gathered renowned scholars, historians, political scientists, economists, civil society figures, and a variety of other experts in the related fields. Following the success of the symposium and the attention attracted in the media AIIS decided to publish the following papers with the aim to have a wide public impact with respect to the most relevant issues discussed during this event.

Albanian Political Parties and Elections since 1991
Arjan Dyrmishi

This paper examines the party system in Albania focusing on: 1) the emergence of the multi-party system which combined the features of the so-called “third wave of democracy” and the legacy of the authoritarian past; 2) its implications on the transition process and on the way the political system was shaped; 3) the electoral system and the implication on the format of the party system and the dynamics of the inter-party competition. 

Bektashism in Albania: Political History of a Religious Movement
Albert Doja

The system of beliefs and practices related to Bektashism seems to have corresponded to a kind of liberation theology, whereas the structure of Bektashi groups corresponded more or less to the type of religious organization conventionally known as charismatic groups. It becomes understandable therefore that their spiritual tendency could at times connect with and meet social, cultural and national perspectives. In turn, when members of the previously persecuted religious minority will acquire a degree of religious and political respectability within society at large, the doctrines of heterodoxy and liberation theology fade into the background. In the end, the heirs of the heterodox promoters of spiritual reform and social movement turn into followers and faithful defenders of a legitimate authority. They become the spokespeople for an industrialized orthodoxy whose support is sought by the political regime.

Debating Integration

In Albania and the Western Balkans the idea of European integration is gaining increasing popular support. Nonetheless, understanding the integration process is essential in order to convert it into a driving force for the political and economic progress of the region. The book combines different perspectives on the European integration, from in and out of the Western Balkans. The first part of the publication focuses on the case of Albania, while the second one aims to explore common regional challenges.

British Diplomacy and the Making of Albania 1912-1914 
Bledar Islami

This book focuses on British diplomatic views and efforts with regard to Albania in a time when the latter won independence from Ottoman Empire. The author tries to shed some light on questions such as: What was Great Britain’s attitude towards Albania? To what extent did Britain influence the decisions taken by the Conference of Ambassadors on the Albanian issues? To what extent British policy was influenced by the need to keep the balance of power in Concert of Europe?