MARXIST: Contemporary Albania

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Contemporary Albania

The People's Republic was dissolved in 1991-92 after protests beginning in 1989 and reforms made by the communist government in 1990, and the Republic of Albania was founded. The Communists retained a stronghold in parliament after popular support in the elections of 1991. However, in March 1992, amid liberalisation policies resulting in economic collapse and social unrest, a new front led by the new Democratic Party took power. The economic crisis spread in late 1996 following the failure of some Ponzi schemes operating in the country, peaking in 1997 in an armed rebellion that led to another mass emigration of Albanians, mostly to Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Germany and North America. In 1999, the country was affected by the Kosovo War, when a great number of Albanians from Kosovo found refuge in Albania. Albania became a full member of NATO in 2009, and is applying to join the European Union.

Albanian state flag

1912	Albanian Declaration of Independence	Declaration of independence of the Albanian Vilayet from the Ottoman Empire. Proclaimed in Vlorë on 28 November 1912.
1912-1914	Independent Albania	Parliamentary state and assembly established in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. The senate were established on 4 December 1912. Leader Ismail Qemali
1914–1925	Principality of Albania	Short-lived monarchy headed by William, Prince of Albania, until the abolition of the monarchy in 1925,
1925–1928	Albanian Republic	Official name as enshrined in the Constitution of 1925. A protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy after the Treaties of Tirana of 1926 and 1927
1928–1939	Albanian Kingdom	Constitutional monarchal rule between 1928 and 1939. A de facto protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy
1939–1943	Albanian Kingdom under Italy	A protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy. Led by Italy's King Victor Emmanuel III Ruled by Italian governors after military occupation by Italy from 1939-1943. Ceased to exist as an independent country. Part of the Italian Empire
1943–1944	Albanian Kingdom under Germany	A de jure independent country, between 1943 and 1944. Germans took control after the Armistice with Italy on 8 September 1943.
1944–1992	People's Socialist Republic of Albania	From 1944 to 1946 it was known as the Democratic Government of Albania. From 1946 to 1976 it was known as the People's Republic of Albania.
since 1992	Republic of Albania	In 1991 the Socialist Party of Albania took control through democratic elections. In 1992 the Democratic Party of Albania won the new elections.