By Ben Andoni
It is some time now that Gezim Alpion, Lecturer of Sociology and Media Studies at the University of Birmingham has become an interesting voice in the field of The Letters in Britain. But in Albania he remains unknown. His works include, “Vouchers” (2001), “Foreigner Complex” (2002), “If only the dead could listen,” (2006), “Mother Teresa: Saint or Celebrity?” Only recently, his works went on display at the British Parliament. His works have also been published in Italy and other countries.
Your publication about Mother Teresa is also in Italian now apart from English. Do you believe that your work is gradually becoming one of the known works that honour such a figure? Do you see your concept realized in the book now?
The publication of this volume in Italian by “Salerno Editrice”, a publishing establishment in Rome which deals in quality titles, indicates that my work is being taken seriously by publishers and academics in Europe. As a researcher, the publication of this volume in a Catholic country as is Italy is another indication that this is a serious book which has no aim at all of either praising or criticizing Mother Teresa. Social Sciences in Albania, Kosovo and other Albanian inhabited regions have a great need for objective studies of Albanian and foreign figures.
You recently published a summary of essays, “Encounters with Civilizations: from Alexander the Great to Mother Teresa,” and “If only the dead could listen.” What particular stand, if any, do you have with present day civilizations? Do you view conflict in itself as antagonist or non-antagonistic?
“One of the aims I had with these two works was to table the argument that Western Civilization should not been regarded as a “yardstick” against which other civilizations are measured. The imposition of a “yardstick” makes confrontation between civilizations inevitable, and what is just as worrying is how conflict between them is presented as justifiable. In every epoch there exists a certain hierarchy of civilizations; and in this sense, the time we live in is no exception. If we speak of the “superiority” of the Western European civilization, this superiority consists in the human right to be able to speak freely and the existence of democratic institutions. Like every predominant civilization however, Western Civilization is often arrogant and consequently it frequently attempts to denigrate other civilizations. My argument in my studies is that this denigration is manifested in different forms and realized through different methods, amongst which the media and literature are the more efficient.
How do you view the way Albanians confront Mother Teresa and why do you think that there are no serious studies in Albania m this figureſ
As far as I could see and understand at the promotional activity for the book on Mother Teresa in Tirana last July, in Albania just as in Kosovo and Macedonia the debate on Mother Teresa was very colourful. However, throughout the Albanian speaking regions there still persists an official mind set which, it appears, only welcome or tolerates praise for Mother Teresa. Albanian scholars, either because they lack the necessary information, or due to hesitation for fear of “damaging” the figure of Mother Teresa, or being branded “unpatriotic” a still not verbal on several somewhat controversial activities of Mother Teresa. I believe that the tendency to endlessly heap nothing but praise on Mother Teresa causes more damage to this exceptionally interesting Albanian figure than good.
What view do you have on the place the cultures of the smaller countries have in a Global World: threatened or not?
This is one of the main subjects in my book, “Encounters with Civilizations,” and in the drama “If Only the Dead Could Listen.” The cultures of the smaller countries are going through a period of confusion and lack of trust in their values. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is a feature of contemporary Albanian culture and of other Balkan cultures. There is a trend towards over-estimating everything foreign and underestimating everything that is ours. This is an inferiority complex with hazardous consequences especially for the younger generations of compatriots both in Albania and in emigration.
Finally, three of your books have been presented at the House of Representatives. What more can you tell us about this activity?
The activity to promote three of my latest works published in India, Italy and America, was organized at the British Parliament by Mr. John Grogan, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Group for Albania. This parliamentary group has participants from all parties that are represented in Parliament. Mr. Grogan is an MP for the Labour Party which is in office in the K since 1997. In his speech Mr. Grogan stressed the positive contribution made by the Albanian Community in Britain. There were researchers and journalists, British, Indian, Dutch and Albanian, English actors, diplomats and Croatian and Serb scholars. I found great pleasure in attending this meeting of compatriots from Kosovo and of Albanian students from several universities throughout the UK. The activity was sponsored by Globic Press. A group of businessmen and politicians had also come from Tirana for this activity. At the end of the activity Mr. Grogan invited those present to visit several of the principle halls of Parliament, including the main hall.
