Tirana Times Editorial
TIRANA, Dec 1 – As Albania celebrated 99 years of independence, one cannot help but notice the rise of a new type of patriotism, bordering on nationalism, which has been absent from the scene in the past twenty years. This could be a sign of the country’s progress, but could also turn negative if it’s used for the wrong purposes.
Albania came out of communism twenty years ago as an extremely poor country and a weak state. The anarchy of 1997 killed many hopes and dreams and made the state even weaker. Under those conditions, when Albanians were leaving the country en masse, patriotic feelings were low on the priority list. Albanian nationalism was so lukewarm inside Albania it made Albanians aspiring to get their full rights in Kosovo, Macedonia and elsewhere very frustrated.
Today, patriotic and national feelings are increasing. This is a good thing because it shows improvements in Albania are making its people believe in their country again. Pride in one’s country also serves as a key factor to move forward key national interests like improving living standards, increasing wealth and European integration.
However, entry into the political scene of movements like the Red and Black Alliance, which uses a mix of nationalism and populism to advance its agenda is a double-edged sword, particularly if the movement is used to advance the personal interests of its leaders rather than the stated goals of democratic values and unity.
We wouldn’t go so far as to call the alliance “atavistic” as Prime Minister Sali Berisha has already done, nonetheless some of its stances are worrying. Its call to grant all Albanians in Kosovo and Macedonia citizenship and passports of the Republic of Albania would distort this country’s very fabric. The alliance stance calling for people to boycott the census was also extreme. Its activists were right to express some concern about census questions about ethnicity and religion, but took a step too far in trying to render the entire process invalid.
Only time will tell how much popular support the Red and Black Alliance has, but the fact that it has surfaced at all, driven largely by youthful activists, shows the nature of Albanian nationalism in Albania is changing.
The good news is that the rise of a new Albanian nationalism has not come in the form of a far right movement or with eurosceptic overtones, as is the case with some other former communist countries. The European integration agenda remains a key goal even for the most nationalistic Albanians. That’s the case because everyone recognizes that bringing Albania up to EU standards is best for the country and its people, and because Albania has much more to gain than lose from Brussels. The softening of national borders under a region inside the EU also softens problems that have caused nationalistic friction in the past.
On an ending note, this is a very important year for Albania. Marking a centennial as an independent nation could prove a turning point for the national psyche and should serve as a rallying call to leave behind old conflicts, divisions and problems and work together for a better future.
