The structures of a democratic state are all available on paper in Albania, but some very important ingredients in implementation are missing
By Frank Hantke*
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung office was opened just after the fall of communism. We will have our 25th anniversary already next year in June. Since this time we try to support and contribute with different kinds of activities to build a modern European democracy here. We are cooperating with parties since they have to be an important cornerstone for democracy-building in a country. We are cooperating with trade unions, because they have to be a strong democratic partner in labor world and social and economic issues. And we are cooperating with civil-society-organizations, because the tough process of transformation only can be succeeded with a competent and lively civil society.
FES always tried to be a partner in these processes, not a donor and not a teacher. As partners of so many different persons, groups and organizations in Albania and the region we also had to learn a lot. The one thing is: nothing can be copy-pasted
Somehow we feel to have become an accepted part of this unique transition story of Albania in the last 25 years. From this point of view I only would like to make few remarks to our subject today. Mainly I would like to refer to the second part of the title: Rebuilding the state and the society.
First let’s have a look to the rebuilding of the state. Albania has everything a democratic state needs: A modern constitution, a pluralistic party system, free elections, freedom of speech, freedom of building interest organizations, etc. Everything what could be done on paper, was done in a proper manner. So — the structures of a democratic state are available. But we will talk about the all-day functioning of all these tools for democracy later.
Nevertheless, still one important fact is missing – and therefore I would like to quote Friedrich Ebert, the first democratically elected president of Germany – and founder of my organization – more than 90 years ago. He saw the need of democracy-learning and -living for the citizens of his state: “A democracy needs democrats” — was his very short dictum. He feared for the German democracy since he saw that people still hadn’t learnt what it means for themselves. His device also was our general road map in the last decades here in Albania.
So we could ask different questions today: Do we already have well skilled democrats – after such a long period of hierarchy and pressure? Do we have a stable house behind the faà§ade – which is beloved and maintained by all its residents? Do we have the necessary understanding that a democracy is led not by leaders but by leadership? Do we have the understanding that democracy also requests cooperation and active contribution by all – politicians, administration and citizens? Some answers might be not sufficient at all.
Regarding polls and also regarding the reality in the country we have to admit that the relation between the citizens and their state still is not the best. Questions have to be asked: Do Albanians really respect or even love their state and its institutions now? If so – do they – politicians and those who gave them their votes – accept its rules, laws and regulations as necessary guidelines for all? If we cannot only answer “Yes” to these questions, we have to search for reasons for the difficulties in the relations between citizens and their own state.
One part of an answer – from my point of view – is shown every day.
Still the attitude of hierarchic thinking and acting is predominant – on both sides — the decision-makers and the decision-takers. Too many things are not developed through dialogue and cooperation, through co-responsibility and participation. The education system still mainly is based on listening to teachers and professors and only learning by heart what they teach: fact-learning instead of process learning. So – somehow even the young generation which never lived in communism still is linked to the old system since the type of education didn’t change so far.
But all people are living in processes, since all have to be an active, creative, critical but accepted part of the transformation – otherwise it never will work properly.
Democracy needs democrats, Friedrich Ebert said. And still it is the truth.
Education for democracy needs to include: Respect on all sides – but no one-sided fear; common dialogue – but no decrees from above; personal co-responsibility – but no subordination; creative learning – but not parroting. My remarks result from our experience in cooperation with people of all the mentioned groups of society. Some burdens of communism still are relevant – not visible but very tangible.
* Frank Hantke leads the office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Albania. These were the remarks he made at an AIIS-organized symposium, “Albania 25 years after the fall of communism: Rebuilding the state and society” held in Tirana on Nov. 25, 2015.
