Albania- country situated in the west side of the Balkan Peninsula

 

Albania- country situated in the west side of the Balkan Peninsula near the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea, it occupies a complex geopolitical space where the ottoman rule left deep marks and the communism huge social problems.

After the ottoman occupation from the fifteenth century, the majority of the population turns to Islamism, but after WW2 it becomes a communist state.

 Following an isolation period, Albania becomes the poorest state in Europe, the problems created by this dictatorial regime having consequently destabilizing of the country. After Enver Hodja’s removal from power a civil war is began, leading to 1600 people dying and 6000 being injured.

The profound crisis of the Albanian society is accentuated by the fact that in the Kosovo province (inhabited by an 80% ratio of Muslim Albanians, considering that the Serbian population, a minority here, is of orthodox religion) the UCK (Kosovo Liberation Army) terrorist movement is initiating guerilla operations against the Serbian army and ethnics.

The NATO intervention from 1999 leads to the apparition of a wave of approximately 450 000 Albanian refugees in Kosovo, which amplifies Albania’s problems with an escalation of violence and chronical anarchy.

Organized crime, women trafficking and corruption make Albania the state with the lowest economic growth in Europe in the 90’s, the most emigrants, their number being estimated at 600 000 out of 3.3 million, the total population in 1998.

 Albania managed to overcome the difficult situation it was in during the late 00’s and it became one of the states with moderate growth in the last few years, having some European and transatlantic ambitions that aren’t administrated properly politically.