The Albanian Question: Reshaping the Balkans

Kosovoa's declaration of independence in 2008 and the overt manipulation of this precedent by Russia in its war with Georgia and South Ossetia shortly afterwards has focused the worlda's attention once again on the Balkans. But Albaniaa's role within the region remains little known and less understood. In this revised edition of a major work of contemporary history, two well-known and internationally-respected authorities elucidate Albania's place in the Balkans, from the explosion of violence in the 1990s, which brought the country to the brink of civil war, to the present day. The future of the Albanians in the Balkans is the most pressing issue in the region today, a fact which the West must pay close heed to if this long neglected nation is to become a European partner. Indeed, the authors argue, in this rapidly evolving political climate, failure to come to terms with the importance of the Albanian question could return the region as a whole to armed conflict.

Table of Contents:
Map of Albania, Kosova and region Introduction Chronology of Recent Events PART ONE 1997- THE CRISIS OF POST-COMMUNIST ALBANIA 1 The Pyramid Banks and the crisis of the Democratic Party government 2 The March Uprising 3 Political Crisis and Government Transition PART TWO THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER 1 The Crisis in Northern Albania 2 ‘Operation Alba’ - A Coalition of the Willing Map of military situation in southern Albania March 1997 3 The revival of Socialist Power and the Royalist Challenge PART THREE THE KOSOVA DIMENSION OF THE NATIONAL QUESTION 1 Tirana, the crisis in Kosova and the origins of the Kosova Liberation Army 2 The War and the ‘First Offensive’ Map of the military situation in Kosova June 1998 3 Tirana and the International Crisis PART FOUR THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN ALBANIA 1 The Northern Crisis- Preparing for a Coup d’etat 2 The Assassination of Azem Hajdari and the ‘Coup’ PART FIVE ALBANIA AND THE DEEPENING KOSOVA CRISIS 1 The Spread of the Kosova war Map of refugee crisis in 1998 2 Tirana and the January Crisis 3 Rambouillet and NATO commitment 4 The Kosova Refugee Crisis and the Region PART SIX THE NEW ALBANIAN SPACE AND THE FUTURE 1 Tirana and the new Kosova 2 The Preshevo Conflict and the Macedonian Conflict of 2001 3 Panalbanianism- Tirana and the wider Albanian World Glossary of Names and Acronyms Index

About the Author :
James Pettifer is author of The Blue Guide to Albania and Kosovo and, also with Miranda Vickers, Albania: From Anarchy to a Balkan Identity. Miranda Vickers is the author of "Between Serb and Albanian - a History of Kosovo and The Albanians - a Modern History".

Review :
'This pioneering book, by two foremost experts on Albanian affairs...is a brilliant account of key events in recent Balkan history.' - John Phillips, The Tablet; 'They are to be congratulated on the objective way in which they have presented the Albanian history of the last ten years.' - Tom Winnifrith, Times Literary Supplement; 'Pettifer and Vickers provide a first-class analysis of the always intricate, and at times convoluted, relationships between Albania's political elites and the ethnic Albanian communities of neighboring countries.' - Gabriel Partos, Transitions Online; 'A well-written and readable account of the Albanian question, that is, of Albania itself and its relations with its immediate neighbours during a very tense and dangerous period. It is to be recommended to all students of the Balkans, of international relations and of conflict analysis.' - John Loughlin, International Affairs