Albania lacked all of the necessary preconditions for the growth of Balkan nationalism. It had no state, it could not look back to a powerful medieval empire, it had no religious unity, no leadership offered by a self-conscious class. When modern nationalism did finally reach the Albanians, it was late, rather weak and certainly unique. It was essentially an elite initiated and driven, 20th century phenomenon. The first real spark of Albanian nationalism, a cultural awakening, took place among the Italo-Albanians of southern Italy in the s.
It was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that Albanians, in significant numbers, began to participate in the growing national movement that sought the traditional goal of modern nationalists, the nation-state. The second significant factor that helps to explain the rise of Albanian national consciousness around the turn of the century was the increasing interest in Albanian matters on the part of foreign powers, particularly Italy and Austria-Hungary.
While the Albanians had no "benefactors" like others in the Balkans, they found these two powers intent on preventing the expansion of Greece and Serbia at the expense of Albanian inhabited lands. While these external factors were important, considerable credit for this first step toward the construction of an Albanian national consciousness must go to a handful of intellectuals primarily in southern Albania and abroad who often served as a link between the various parts of the country.
Ismail Kemal Bey, often described as the father of Albanian independence, can be counted among this group. He, along with most educated Albanian patriots, supported the unification of the four vilayets inhabited by Albanians and the attainment of administrative autonomy—to be achieved not through armed insurrection but through collaboration between all the oppressed nationalities of the empire.
The rapid defeat of Ottoman forces in the First Balkan War complicated the situation for the Albanians. Serbs and Greeks, who saw the area as legitimate spoils, occupied much Albanian territory. In the face of this crisis Ismail Kemal decided that independence — regardless of how unprepared the Albanians were — was the only way to save Albanian lands from dismemberment.
And, with the support of Austria-Hungary and Italy, success was at least possible. A hastily called assembly proclaimed the independence of Albania on 28 November Thus, Ismail Kemal had created Albania, although with only just over half of all Albanian speakers within its borders, in response to the threat of assimilation. Next, he hoped to create Albanians conscious of their nationality, but he was not given the time.
Ismail Kemal saw his fledgling nation overwhelmed by events and, with the beginning of World War I, by the armies of six different powers. Albania emerged from the First World War battered, with much of its territory occupied, and its marginal pre-war state infrastructure destroyed. The war did, however, further Kemal's work in one sense: the extended foreign occupation helped reinforce Albanian identity.
The process of constructing a widespread national consciousness and the process of constructing a state apparatus was by necessity begun anew by Ahmed Zog, who dominated Albania during the interwar years, first as minister of the interior, then as prime minister, president and, finally, as king.
Zog began his political career as a minor Muslim Gheg chieftain from the northern district of Mati. Although he suffered from a somewhat truncated education, his cunning, energy, willingness to use violence and sheer audacity, enabled him to seize control of the state in and take significant steps in the construction of national unity and a national consciousness that he saw as his principal task.
Zog can be considered a non-traditional nationalist in the sense he was not an irredentist. Ottoman government and Albanian nationalist representatives signed a ceasefire agreement in Podgorica on August 3, Some 8, Turkish government soldiers were killed or wounded during the conflict. Turkish government troops and Albanian rebels resumed military hostilities in Kosovo on April 23, Turkish troops and Albanian rebels clashed near Prizren on June 18, , resulting in the deaths of some Turkish soldiers.
Albanian rebels captured Prishtina on July 22, Albanian nationalist and Ottoman government representatives held negotiations on August , , during which the Albanian presented a list of fourteen demands to the Ottoman government on August 9, Ottoman troops and Albanian rebels resumed military hostilities on August 12, However, there was a new threat to Albania — the Ottoman Turks.
The Turks occupied southern and central Albania in the years However, in a rebellion broke out. It was led by George Kastrioti Under him and his son, the Albanians in the north continued to resist the Turks until Under Turkish rule, some Albanians converted to Islam although Christians were allowed to practice their religion. Generally, Turkish rule brought stability to Albania.
However, in the late 19th century, a strong independence movement grew up in Albania. The nationalist movement promoted Albanian language and culture. By the Turkish Empire was in steep decline and Albanians were afraid their country would be divided up between members of the Balkan League.
To prevent that happening Albanian leaders met in Vlora and on 28 November they declared independence. However, they refused to recognize the provisional government in Albania. Instead, they made a German prince, William of Wied king of Albania. William arrived in Albania in March However, he fled after only six months in September Albania then split into regions without any central government.
However, in the Albanians formed a provisional government. Elections were held and a parliament sat in Tirana in In December he became Albanian premier. However, Zogu lost the election in January and he fled abroad in June Yet in December with Yugoslav help, he marched on Tirana and overthrew the government. In June , former general Alfred Moisiu was elected president, endorsed by both the Socialists headed by Fatos Nano and the Democrats led by Sali Berisha , in an effort to end the unproductive political fractiousness that has stalemated the government.
The political duel between Nano and Berisha continued, however, and little improvement was evident in the standard of living for Albanians. In elections, Berisha replaced Nano, who had been appointed by Moisiu in as prime minister. Bamir Topi, a scientist and senior member of Berisha's Democratic Party, was elected president by parliament in July In July 's elections, the closest since , Berisha's center-right coalition narrowly defeated the opposition socialists, who were led by Edi Rama.
The opposition disputed the results and accused Berisha of voter intimidation. After three failed attempts to elect a president, the parliament finally succeeded on June 11, , when Interior Minister Bujar Nishani was elected with 73 votes of the seats.
Flamur Noka was named new interior minister and Edmond Panariti became foreign minister. Sali Berisha, prime minister since , was defeated in his third bid for the office. Berisha conceded defeat and announced his intention to step down from leadership of the Democratic Party, while Rama celebrated his victory and reiterated his goal to secure EU membership for Albania. See also Encyclopedia: Albania. State Dept. Country Notes: Albania Institute of Statistics www.
Government Emerging democracy. Political Infighting Stalls Progress Ilir Meta, elected prime minister in , rapidly moved forward in his first years to modernize the economy, privatize business, fight crime, and reform the judiciary and tax systems.
At Last a New Albanian President Is Elected After three failed attempts to elect a president, the parliament finally succeeded on June 11, , when Interior Minister Bujar Nishani was elected with 73 votes of the seats.
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