Albania is gradually climbing up the tourism hierarchy, getting more and more popular among foreigners as the days go by. The country is now recognized for its welcoming and friendly nature, but when you learn about the country’s past, you’ll quickly realize that things weren’t always this simple for Albanians.
Between the period of 1946 and 1991, the nation lived under strict rule at the hands of Enver Hoxha, and life in communist Albania was a struggle, to say the least.
Punti di forza
- Albania was under strict communist rule of Enver Hoxha between the years 1946-1991.
- The Albanians, under communism, faced several problems, including poverty and oppression.
- Since that time, Albania has escaped communism and is now a democratic republic.
How Albania was thrown under communist rule
Albania’s push toward communist reign started during World War 2. This was also the time when Italians invaded Albania, specifically around 1939, and took over the country. Two years after that period, Enver Hoxha, the former communist leader in Albania, founded CPA, an acronym for the Communist Party of Albania, which later went on to form a resistance group to drive the Italians out of the country.
By 1944, Hoxha had established dominance throughout most of Albania, but he wasn’t locked in yet. It was only in 1946 that the country’s elections were also finalized, and Enver Hoxha was deemed the leader of the People’s Republic of Albania.
A lot of factors came into play that led to Albania becoming a communist state, including the vulnerable economic and military situation of the country at the time, Yugoslavia’s intervention, and more.
If you’d like to go more into the detail of Albania’s communist history, here are some invaluable sources to rely on:
- Mud Sweeter than Honey, book by Małgorzata Rejmer
- Robert Elsie, a decorated writer who specialized in Albanian studies
- A Concise History of Albania, another book by Oliver Schmitt
What was life like in Communist Albania?
Although there were some positives to it as well, daily life in communist Albania was generally considered terrible, and there were plausible reasons why. Operating on the principles of communism meant that Albanians were first and foremost isolated; cut off from the rest of the world. This led to public frustration in the start due to staple items and goods mostly remaining unavailable in the market.
Why? Because Enver Hoxha decided to ban all forms of foreign trade, all while promoting the motto of “self-reliance,” when in reality, it was simply extremism taking its toll on the Albanians. Next, there was oppression, a constant state of paranoia that the Albanians were submerged in, and a declining economy, which led to even more issues.
Conversely, Hoxha’s rule had a few useful outcomes, like this source witnesses:
“Every single person had a job and a roof over their head. Education was better and everybody felt relatively safe. I say relatively because, although there wasn’t a lot of crime, people were scared of stepping on the wrong toes and essentially ruining their lives and the lives of all of their family members. Earlier years of communism were better than the later. That’s where the good stops.”
Communist Albania favoured the people in the following ways, though I have to admit that the pros of communism in Albania do not outweigh the cons in the grand scheme of things.
- Healthcare was made free, though its quality left a lot to be desired.
- The standard of education improved.
- Employment rate increased.
- Hoxha’s regime also highlighted women’s rights and prioritized gender equality.
- Corruption was brought down to a minimum.
Communism in Albania came At a Hefty cost
Communism’s roots are in good faith, but it’s the interpretation of this classless system that can often bring more harm than good. Here’s an overview of Enver Hoxha’s communist Albania and some of the major challenges the nation’s citizens faced back in the day.
Unjust Repression
While things were not going well for Albania, the government was focused on pursuing an all-is-well propaganda. This was false to the bone, and the Hoxha rule took to the censorship of anything and anyone that dared to oppose it.
Economic Crisis
I learned that families of 5 sometimes had to share a 500g bread loaf for a week to survive in communist Albania. Food items, such as milk, meat, eggs, and cheese, were rationed, and you could only get them in limited quantities. The shortage of food only increased with time, and Albania’s economy continued to worsen.
Isolation and lack of freedom
According to sources, living in the country at the time was akin to “animals living in a zoo.” If you had thoughts that differed from the state’s best interests, you and your extended family would pay the price for it.
Add in the inability to travel outside the country or anywhere else freely, and you’re really looking at a challenging time here. People grew untrustworthy of each other. Paranoia persisted everywhere, and the government even launched “Sigurimi,” a secret police organization tasked with keeping a watchful eye on the locals.
Is Albania a communist state?
No, Albania is not a communist state anymore. The country transitioned from communism to democracy in 1992, with the onset of the Democratic Party of Albania. Today, the nation enjoys a free market system with no governmental interference, along with multiple political parties that make up the country’s democratic system.
If anything, Albania is now an emerging spot in the tourism sector thanks to its friendly policies, great local people, and beautiful places to visit.
Conclusione
To many, life was a nightmare in communist Albania, and it’s seen via different historical records that the Albanians had to endure quite a lot back in the day. The damning effects of Enver Hoxha and his rule have left an indelible mark on the country even decades later. The government still struggles with its economy, although it continues to improve each year.
The good news is, Albania’s days of being an oppressed, communist state are long over. The Balkan nation is thriving in the tourism space today and the future seems bright as well.
If you’ve got any questions left unanswered, feel free to contact us at Magic Towns Albania.
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