Albanian Identities: Myth, Narratives and Politics

Albanian history and society are permeated with myths and mythical narratives, which often serve political purposes. On the basis of myths, collective identities are ideologically defined, social boundaries and exclusion and inclusion justified, images of friend and foe constructed, and feelings of belonging, pride, trust or suspicion evoked. Albanian history and politics have explicitly shown, not least in the Kosovo war, how myths are used to justify and direct violence, how attention is distracted from responsibilities, and how power and internal cohesion is established through selectively omitting, reproducing or (re)-inventing myths. While all modern states, including developed democratic ones, are susceptible to the power of myth, the extent to which myths are challenged in any given society reflects the political character of the state. Crisis-ridden Albania provides a test case that demonstrates how myths operate in post-totalitarian regimes and how they underpin political and social processes. The book critically de-constructs Albanian myths and offers insights into Albanian history and politics. It concludes with contemporary Albanian critiques of the origins and function of Albanian politics and ideologies.

Table of Contents:
Narratives of power - capacities of myths in Albania, S. Schwandner-Sievers; the nation of myths, G. Schopflin; the role of education in the formation of Albanian identity and its myths, I. Blumi; the Albanian pursuit of education in the native language in Kosovo of the interwar period of 1918-41 and post-autonomy, 1989-98, Denisa Kostovicova; Enver Hoxha's role in the development of socialist Albanian myths, A. Standish; Naim Frasheri's Qerbelaja, G. Duijzings; the myth of Ali Pasha and the Bektashis, N. Clayer; perceptions and reality in 20th century Albanian military prowess, B. Fischer; national autochthonie and purity through kanan myths in prose and other media, R. Pichler; some key elements of national myths, as expressed in the works of Albanian writers in America, N. Malcolm; Kadare's Homeric verses, G. Valchinova; the perceptions of Albanian in Greece in the 1830s and 1840s, E. Skoulidas; 19th century invention of Skanderberg, A. Ducellier; "culture" and the re-invention of myths, G. de Rapper; political myths of immigrant Albanians in North America, A. Lafontain; the myth of origin of the KLA, J. Pettifer; Albania as "terra incognita", M. Pandolfi; youth NGOs in Albania, N. Mai; in search of myths and casualties of corruption in Albanian police, A. Koci; conspiracy theories in Albanian party politics and media, F. Schmidt; virtual worlds - from "Rilindja" through communism to today - glorious past and misery in the present, F. Lubonja; invention of nationalism in Albania - myth and amnesia, P. Misha; the concept of sovereignty and images of the future in Albania, E. Njgela.