Albania today : a portrait of post-communist turbulence

Clarissa de Waal's new book explains Albania's 'transition' from Communism via the experiences of a diverse range of families, highland villagers, urban elite and shanty dwellers - whose lives she has followed since 1992. As such, this is a history - of economic, social and political change - told from the perspective of the participants. We see how far the archaic world of customary law continues to pervade highland life, from dispute settlement to arranged marriages. At the same time, the author shows us members of the ex-communist elite in Tirana embracing rentier capitalism, while squatters on state farmland live under constant threat of eviction. Albania, the author suggests, is a country wracked by contradictions. Clarissa de Waal's new book will inform and engage all those interested in Albania and southeast Europe. Catapulted from totalitarianism to free market capitalism in 1991, Albania emerged from half a century of isolation to find itself an anomaly in Europe: a third world country economically and infra-structurally, first world in terms of education, literature and the arts. This portrait of Albania's 'transition' is based on the experiences of a diverse range of families - highland villagers, urban elite, shanty dwellers - whose lives the anthropologist author has followed closely since 1992. Village life is conveyed in vivid detail. The villagers deal with the grinding poverty of village life with humour, charm and reslience. Rural life, despite concerted attempts by the communist regime to eradicate 'backwardness', is still pervaded by the archaic world of customary law, a system whose influence spans dispute settlement, forest rights, marriage arrangement and blood-feuds. In the capital, Tirana, members of the former communist elite are courted by innumerable missionary groups and foreign 'experts'. These groups, with the means and the connections to do so, are seen to be uninhibitedly embracing rentier capitalism. Meanwhile, highland villagers with no means of subsistence after the closure of state enterprises, have descended to squat on undistributed state farmland, there to live under constant threat of eviction. Mass unemployment, widespread lawlessness and government laissez-faire have led to a scale of emigration unparalleled elsewhere in former communist Europe. The shock of nation-wide revolt in 1997 triggered alarm and international intervention. But new reforms were followed all too quickly by a reversion to government laissez-faire and unchecked corruption. Clarissa de Waal's new book is a history of economic, political and social transition based on the author's anthropological research. As such the reader sees the fundamental changes taking place in Albania from the perspective of the participants. Entertaining as well as informative, "Albania Today" will engage not just those interested in Albania and southeast Europe, but equally anyone with an interest in the impact on individuals and families of the economic and political transition. Catapulted From Totalitarianism To Free Market Capitalism In 1991, Albania Emerged From Half A Century Of Isolation To Find Itself An Anomaly In Europe: A Third World Country Economically And Infra-structurally, First World In Terms Of Education, Literature And The Arts. This Portrait Of Albania's 'transition' Is Based On The Experiences Of A Diverse Range Of Families - Highland Villagers, Urban Elite, Shanty Dwellers - Whose Lives The Anthropologist Author Has Followed Closely Since 1992. Village Life Is Conveyed In Vivid Detail. The Villagers Deal With The Grinding Poverty Of Village Life With Humour, Charm And Resilience. Rural Life, Despite Concerted Attempts By The Communist Regime To Eradicate 'backwardness', Is Still Pervaded By The Archaic World Of Customary Law, A System Whose Influence Spans Dispute Settlement, Forest Rights, Marriage Arrangement And Blood-feuds. Clarissa De Waal's New Book Is A History Of Economic, Political And Social Transition Based On The Author's Anthropological Research. As Such The Reader Sees The Fundamental Changes Taking Place In Albania From The Perspective Of The Participants. Entertaining As Well As Informative, Albania Today Will Engage Not Just Those Interested In Albania And South-east Europe, But Equally Anyone With An Interest In The Impact On Individuals And Families Of The Economic And Political Transition.--book Jacket. First Impressions: Dropull -- Tirana, 1992 -- Looking For A Fieldwork Base -- Mirdita And Its History -- The Kanun In The 1990s -- On The Ground In Mirdita:fan -- Orosh -- Developments -- Village Life -- Rrëshen 1 -- Rrëshen 2 -- Descent To The Plain. Clarissa De Waal. Published In Association The Centre For Albanian Studies. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [261]-262) And Index. "Albania is one of the youngest European states and the last country to emerge from the collapse of Ottoman Turkish power at the beginning of the 20th century. Underlying Albania's often-turbulent history is an extraordinary archaeological heritage of international significance, the evidence of which is to be found everywhere in the cities and countryside, hills and mountains. Each year, thousands of tourists visit Albania, drawn primarily to the vast archaeological site at Butrint - now almost forgotten, but viewed by historians as the Marseilles of its time as late as the Middle Ages - but also experiencing a number of the other archaeological and heritage sites which Albania has to offer, including Shkodra, Apollonia and Berat. In addition to these sites, there are a number of lesser-known, but nonetheless exquisite sites and monuments which visitors are often unaware of. This guide provides a unique introduction to 50 of Albania's archaeological sites, enabling visitors to enjoy the best-known sites, but also to venture out to the more remote monuments, many in stunning locations. This book will lead the visitor in the footsteps of Odysseus, Caesar and Lord Byron, through Illyrian valleys and over breathtaking mountain passes to explore the beautiful country of Albania and its archaeological heritage."--Bloomsbury Publishing This new book examines Albania's transition from Communism via the experiences of a diverse range of families, highland villagers, urban elite, shanty dwellers--Clarissa de Wall has followed the lives of Albanians there since 1992. As such, this is a history--of economic, social and political change--told from the perspective of the participants. We see how far the archaic world of customary law continues to pervade highland life, from dispute settlement to arranged marriages. At the same time, the author shows us members of the ex-communist elite in Tirana embracing rentier capitalism, while squatters on state farmland live under constant threat of eviction. Albania, the author suggests, is a country wracked by contradictions: in flight from its Communists past and yet still beholden to its rural traditions; keen to embrace free markets but without foregoing the security of central planning. I.B.Tauris in association with the Centre for Albanian Studies Contents......Page 6 List of Ilustrations......Page 8 1. Introduction......Page 10 2. First Impressions: Dropull......Page 29 3. Tirana, 1992......Page 37 4. Looking for a fieldwork base......Page 54 5. Mirdita and Its History......Page 77 6. The Kanun in the 1990s......Page 92 7. On the Ground in the Mirdita: Fan......Page 104 8. Orosh......Page 125 9. Developments......Page 145 10. Village Life......Page 167 11. Rrëshen 1......Page 189 12. Rrëshen 2......Page 212 13. Descent to the Plain......Page 236 14. Concluding......Page 250 Appendices......Page 258 Endnotes......Page 262 Bibliography......Page 270 Index......Page 272