| description |
An account of a country which has experienced a turbulent history and decades of isolation. The last few years have brought unprecedented change to the entire Albanian political system, with the establishment of diplomatic relations with over 100 states by 1987; the collapse of communism and the progression to multi-party elections (first in April 1991 and again in March 1992); and the upheaval that followed the March 1997 uprising. This book traces the modern history of Albania from the end of the Ottoman period. It takes in the beginning of the Albanian national movement; the first Balkan war; the World War I occupation of Albanian territory; independence; the rule of King Zogu; the formation of the Albanian Communist Party; Enver Hoxha and the formation of the provisional government under his leadership; the link with Tito and Yugoslavia; the break with Tito and the relationship with the Soviet Union; the rift with Moscow and the link with China; the death of Hoxha in 1985; the succession of Ramiz Alia; the process of gradual reform; the 1991 elections and the victory of the PLA (the Communist Party); the collapse of the coalition government later that year; and the victory of the ADP (the Albanian Democratic Party) the following year. Newly revised for this edition, The Albanians considers the gradual process of reform and the fragility of the Albanian experiment with democracy, and includes a dramatic account of the days leading up to Sali Berisha's resignation of the presidency. The text has also been updated to cover the crisis in Kosova that has led to the first "Western" war in Europe since 1945. |