AIIS Publications

Books

Weak States & Security: Rethinking the Balkan Post-Cold War Security Agenda
Albert Rakipi, AIIS, Tirana 2008

Although the weak/failing states have often been described as the single most important problem for the international order since the end of Cold War, several dimensions of this phenomenon still remain unexplored. Following the Cold War’s “peaceful” period and the bloody 1990s, the Balkan region today represents a mixture of weak states and international protectorates, positioned equally far from failure as from eventual success. The author suggests that there is a strong correlation between weak states and security issues. Through the investigation of this correlation, the author analyses how state strength influences security. The study focuses on domestic threats to security, concentrating on the Balkans, and in particular, it analyses the range of security problems of Albania and Macedonia. Therefore, it is a genuine debate on the security dilemma at the domestic level in the post Cold war environment based on the argument that with the demise of the bipolar international system, internal security issues became more important compared to external threats.

Debating Integration
AIIS

The idea of European integration is gaining increasing popular support. Nonetheless, understanding the integration process is essential in order to convert it into a driving force for the progress of Balkan countries. The book combines different perspectives on the European integration, from in and out the region. The first part of the publication focuses on the case of Albania, while the second one aims to explore common challenges for the region.

British Diplomacy and the Making of Albania 1912-1914
Bledar Islami, Working Paper Series, No. 4,
AIIS, Tirana

The London Conference of Ambassadors (1912-1914) focused on Balkan Question stemming from the two Balkan Wars, and as such, it dealt with the so-called “Albanian Question”- recognition of the sovereignty, borders, and institutions of the nascent Albanian state. This crucial moment in Albanian history has been one of the most elaborated upon, and as it often happens with landmark events, one of the most misinterpreted and mythologized topics. Focusing on British diplomatic views and actions concerning Albania, the author tries to shed light on questions such as Great Britain’s interests towards Albania, British influence upon the decisions taken by the Conference of Ambassadors, and the extent to which the need to keep the balance in the European Concert influenced the British policy, etc.

Albania: A Weak Democracy, A Weak State
Kajsiu, B., Bumçi, A., Rakipi, A., AIIS.

Ten years after the fall of Communism, Albania remains an unstable democracy. The country is still recovering from the 1997-1998 crises and lagging behind the other former Communist countries. The book is an attempt by the analysts of the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) to identify some of the main challenges faced by the Albanian society. The book offers some recommendations on how to overcome the problems.

Albanians in the Balkans
AIIS, Tirana

The book is a collection of contributions from experts in the area of international relations and Albanian personalities to a debate organised by AIIS in Tirana, 2001. The authors deliberate on the Yugoslav dissolution, the war and the future of Kosova, the Albanian question, etc. Among the contributors, you will find Ismail Kadare, Janusz Bugajski, and Veton Surroi.

The Six Months’ Kingdom: Memoirs of the Private Secretary of Prince William of Wied
Captain D. Heaton-Amstrong, AIIS, Tirana

The kingdom of Albania is one of the most critical periods of the history of Albania, and simultaneously one of the less known and most distorted, especially in the Albanian historiography. The memoirs of captain Duncan Heaton-Armstrong, secretary of Prince Wilhelm of Wied describe in detail the historical developments of the time.

Dissolution of Yugoslavia and the Case of Kosova: Political and Legal Aspects
Enver Hasani, AIIS

The author discusses in the monograph a number of core issues to the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Was former Yugoslavia an artificial creature and what were the reasons behind its creation? Do Kosova and its majority population have the right to self-determination and to independent statehood as the former Yugoslav republics? What was the role of Serbian nationalism in the creation and dissolution of former Yugoslavia?

Stability Pact: Just Around the Corner
AIIS, Tirana

The book is a collection of the best contributions to the international symposium “Stability Pact, Perceptions and Realities” (Tirana, 16 April 2000). The contributions present the official viewpoints of the concerned countries on the Stability Pact.

Democracy and Security: Kosova on the agenda
AIIS, Tirana

The contributors debated how to construct peace and stability in an ethnically divided society. Despite their differences, the authors agreed that democratization of Kosova was not going to bring peace to Kosovo, a conclusion that was confirmed by the events on the ground.

Policy papers

Increasing Transparency at the Local Level
AIIS, 2007

The report focuses on measuring the perceptions of the Albanians on their local authorities, their legitimacy, efficacy, and corruption. It reveals that the legitimacy of the local authorities was higher than that of the central institutions, including members of the parliament. However, their low efficacy and the high level of corruption challenged their legitimacy. The report concluded that transparency was a major factor that could fight corruption and improve the legitimacy of the local authorities.

Enhancing Transparency of Political Parties and Election Campaign Finance in Albania
AIIS, Tirana, 2007

The financial transparency of political parties in their day-to-day operations and during their electoral campaigns is one of the elements of a healthy and sustainable democracy. The policy paper analyses the specific case of Albania and focuses on the contemporary developments in the area of party financing. The paper explores the legal deficiencies of the existing Albanian legislation, its implementation problems, and the dynamics of the interplay between politics and business.

Local Governance and Corruption: The Case of Albania, The Decentralization Strategy from the Anti-Corruption Perspective
AIIS, Tirana, 2006

The paper analyzes the decentralization issues from the perspective of corruption in order to warn that unless this trend is reversed, corrupt practices may become “institutionalized” in local authorities and threaten the purpose of decentralization- bringing government closer to citizens.

Albanian Democratization: In search of Accountability
AIIS, 2005

The report examines how to increase accountability of national and local authorities. The report examines six variables- electoral processes, political parties, international community, civil society, media, and corruption- and how they affect accountability and identifies some of the major failures of the Albanian political system. The report concludes that Albania is far from being a consolidated democracy and provides specific policy recommendations for each examined variable.

Debating National Security: The Case of Albania, Border Security, Religion and Corruption
AIIS, 2004

The report is the outcome of the project “National security Issues- Promoting Civil Society Participation and Expertise”. The book analyzes several issues on national security namely: border security, national security and religion, and corruption.

Democratic Governance at the Local Level: The Case of Albania
AIIS, 2003

The object of the report is to study how participation, decentralisation, and economic independence can increase the transparency, responsiveness, accountability, and the efficiency of local authorities.

Working papers

Albanian Political Parties and Elections since 1991
Arjan Dyrmishi, AIIS, Tirana, 2009

This paper examines the party system in Albania focusing on: 1) the emergence of the multi-party system which combined the features of the so-called “third wave of democracy” and the legacy of the authoritarian past; 2) its implications on the transition process and on the way the political system was shaped; 3) the electoral system and the implication on the format of the party system and the dynamics of the inter-party competition.

Bektashism in Albania: Political History of a Religious Movement
Albert Doja, AIIS, Tirana, 2008

The system of beliefs and practices related to Bektashism seems to have corresponded to a kind of liberation theology, whereas the structure of Bektashi groups corresponded more or less to the type of religious organization conventionally known as charismatic groups. It becomes understandable therefore that their spiritual tendency could at times connect with and meet social, cultural and national perspectives. In turn, when members of the previously persecuted religious minority will acquire a degree of religious and political respectability within society at large, the doctrines of heterodoxy and liberation theology fade into the background. In the end, the heirs of the heterodox promoters of spiritual reform and social movement turn into followers and faithful defenders of a legitimate authority. They become the spokespeople for an industrialized orthodoxy whose support is sought by the political regime.

Albanian immigrants in Athens: Power Relations and Health
Anna Mousouli, AIIS, 2005

The author examines how power relations affect and shape the position, discourses, and practices of Albanian immigrants in their contact with Greek society and especially the health care system. The author studies the representations of social reality and experiences of the Albanian immigrants in Greece examining the Greek migratory policies, relationships in the labour market, and practices of social exclusion, police violence, etc. The paper emphasizes how social position and power relations determine their status in the health care system, their perception of health and the relationship between the Greek doctor and Albanian immigrant patient. These issues are illustrated through ethnographic data, gathered during fieldwork among Albanian immigrants in Athens.

“Gjakmarrja”: Albanian Highlander’s “Blood Feud” as a Social Obligation
Diana Gellçi, AIIS, Tirana, 2005

“Blood feuds” or “vendettas” are a mode of self-governance, generally attributed to the weakness of the state to enforce law and provide security. In the case of the Albanian Highlands, however, the blood feud developed into a complex social structure enforced by unwritten rules known as the Kanun. The working paper is a detailed analysis of “gjakmarrja” and sheds light on the esoteric character that the practice.

The Majority that Defeats Us
Henri Çili, Working Paper, nr. 3, AIIS, 2002

The working paper presents a critique of the “single-member district-plurality” electoral system (referred in this paper as the majoritarian electoral system), and argues for the necessity of the proportional system considering the Albanian context and the experiences of the last decade.

Macedonia and the Albanians: The Confines of Ethnic Politics
Bumçi Aldo, Working paper, No. 2, AIIS, Tirana, 2001

The security of the Western Balkans depends on the preservation of stability in Macedonia and on the resolution of the Albanian question. The objective of the paper is to shed light on the relation between the Albanian and Macedonian communities in Macedonia and the relations between Albania, Macedonia, and Kosova.

The Politics of Religion in the Reconstruction of Identities: The Albanian Situation
Doja, Albert, Working paper, No. 1, AIIS, Tirana, 2001

We should understand the successive processes of conversion and re-conversion among the Albanians and other Southeast European populations in terms of the dynamics of objectification and resistance against pressures exerted by authorities holding political and religious power. The approach allows us to place the religious affiliations within the broader context of negotiations and redefinitions of social identities, leading to the transformation of Albanian identity and ethnicity, and the reconstruction of political, social, and national identity.

Reports

The European Perspective of Albania: Perceptions and Reality
AIIS, Tirana, 2010

The series “European Union and Albania: Perceptions and Reality- Rethinking the EU integration” is the product of a long-term project carried out by AIIS (2002-2010). The project “Albania and European Union: Perceptions and Realities”, assesses the Albanians’ perceptions and knowledge on European Union and the European integration process.

Informative Manual on the Stabilization and Association Agreement
AIIS, 2010

The brochure provides information on Albania’s relations with European Union and the essence and proceedings of the Stabilization Association Process.

Small Lexicon of European Integration
AIIS, 2010

Small lexicon of European integration provides a concise explanation of the basic terms related to the European Union, its policy, enlargement process and accession of Albania to the EU.

Albania and NATO: Why do we need NATO?
AIIS, Tirana, 2008

The study assesses the level of expertise of four elite groups (public administration, civil society, media and military forces, on the NATO integration process. Because these groups, be their very nature, play a primary role in shaping the attitudes and beliefs of the public as a whole, the study aims to gain a sense of what the public as a whole thinks of these issues.

Informative Manual on the New Financial Instrument of the European Union: The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)
AIIS, Tirana, 2008

The paper provides information on the new financial instruments of the European Union (IPA) offered to countries engaged in the accession process to the EU for the period 2007-2013.

Blood Feud as a Security Threat: Rethinking the Institutional Approach
AIIS, 2007

The report analyzes in detail the blood feud practice in Shkodra district, and seeks to represent the response of state institutions to the blood feud, focusing on the activities and performances of the law enforcement agencies: police, public prosecutor and the courts.

Strengthening Internal Party Democracy in Albania
AIIS, 2007

The paper gives an account of political history and heritage in Albania and continues with the legislative framework and an overview of the research concept of IPD. The analysis focuses on the main IPD dimensions as expressed in the parties’ statutes on one hand, and as implemented in reality, on the other, based on historical evidence, theoretical frameworks and the perceptions of party members and independent experts.

The Blood Feud: Between Kanun and State
AIIS, Tirana, 2007

The report contains a sociological explanation of the phenomenon and the research findings of our fieldwork carried out in North-western Albania where the blood feud phenomenon persists. The report includes also, an examination of how government agencies, local authorities, NGOs are responding to blood feud and dealing with its social consequences.

EU Assistance Programmes: INTERREG Initiatives in Albania, Croatia and Macedonia
AIIS, Tirana, 2007

As part of the Community Initiative, the INTERREG Programme constitutes one of the main elements of the European Union policy to promote economic and social cohesion. The goal is to reduce regional economic and social disparities. The southern regions of Italy and Greece are some of the largest beneficiaries of the programs. The report informs on the institutional aspects of Programs, and the possibilities of the Albanian regions to participate in the programs.

Regional Co-operation for Development and the European Integration
AIIS, Tirana, 2007

Regional cooperation is the precondition and the road towards EU membership, which remains the strategic goal of the Western Balkan countries. The goal of the paper was to inform local authorities and the public about the latest developments, possibilities for regional cooperation, and the most interesting fields of cooperation. The paper was the result of a project that included seven NGOs and research institutes from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosova, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

Regional Economic Development and SMEs Progress within the SAA Implementation Framework
AIIS, 2006

The paper is a joint publication of Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS), Euro Balkan Institute (Macedonia) and CEPOR- SMEs Policy Center (Croatia), and focuses on the challenges and opportunities of the European integration. The research paper advocates a stronger role for the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The paper identifies the best practices and experiences in the field of regional development and SMEs progress as part of the SAA framework.

SAA: Challenges and Implementation Consequences
AIIS, Tirana, 2006

An informative publication on the SAA between Albania and European Union. It explains the history of relations between Albania and EU, the progress towards the EU membership, and challenges ahead.

Albania and the European Integration
AIIS, Tirana, 2006

The brochure, prepared in cooperation with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, provides information on Albania’s relations with European Union, the essence and proceedings of the Stabilization Association Process and an overview of the history and institutions of the European Union.

Cross Border Cooperation in Shkodra: Prospective Euro-Region or a Pending Effort
AIIS, Tirana, 2006

Since the fall of Communism and the tumultuous 90s, the international community has encouraged and supported cross border cooperation aiming to increase economic growth and reconcile communities after the ethnic conflicts that rampaged the Balkans in the 90’. The report focuses on Shkodra and its adjacent areas as one of the most attractive regions in Albania to develop cross border cooperation with Montenegro and Kosova.

Albanian Brain Drain: Turning the Tide
AIIS, Tirana, 2005

The research report addresses the brain drain phenomenon in Albania. The research report concludes that the brain drain phenomenon is delaying the Albanian transition to democracy and market economy. The report concludes with a number of recommendations on how to encourage the return of the Albanians educated abroad and assist their professional integration in Albanian society.

Early Warning Report: Human Security in Albania
AIIS, Tirana, 2004

The Albania Early Warning Report develops an analytical tool to evaluate human security in the Albanian context. Human security is a very broad concept that encompasses economic, social, and political security and determines human development. The report focuses on the poverty and unemployment, rule of law and corruption, crime and personal security, natural disasters, and pollution, and their impact on human security and development. The paper studies also, the energy crisis in 2004, and its repercussions on the economic development and the daily life of citizens.

Albania and the European Union: The Stabilization and Association Agreement
AIIS, Reports, January, June, September, December 2004

The reports aim to inform the Albanian citizens on the Stabilization and Association Process, its technicalities, and on the impact of the Agreement on the Albanian politics and economy.

Simplified Law on Local Institutions & Municipality Statute and Procedure Rules
AIIS, Tirana, 2004

Two informative brochures funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in the framework of the project “Increasing Democratic Governance at the Local Level”, implemented by AIIS during 2004. The information is intended to assist municipal councils in their day-to-day work and to enhance local communities’ understanding of how local authorities operate. Further, they aim to increase participation and consolidate democratic governance at the local level.

Essays + Articles

Albert Rakipi: “Weak States and Development – Rethinking the Outsider’s Response”, in Deimel, Johanna and van Meurs, Wim (eds.) (2007): Balkan Prism. Verlag Otto Sagner, Berlin

Albert Rakipi: “EU Single Seat in the Security Council: too Kantian to be loved”, Europe’s World, no. 4, 2006

Albert Rakipi: “Albanian Italian Relations in the Post Cold War Environment: Managing Threats or Opportunities”, Eastern European Quarterly, vol. 40, nr. 6, September 2006

Albert Rakipi: “Italy’s Near Abroad: National Perception from a Geopolitical Region, The Case of Albania”, Military Center for Strategic Studies (CmiSS), Rome 2004

Albert Rakipi: “Understanding the Balkan Democratization Process- a Liberal Approach”, Sudosteuropa Mitteilungen, nr. 4, 2004

Ada Huibregtse: "External Interventions in Ethnic Conflict", International Interactions, vol: 36, no. 3, September 2010, pp.265-293.

Ada Huibregste: "Compliance with the Reporting Requirements of Human Rights Conventions" (with Lawrence Leblanc and Timothy Meister), International Journal of Human Rights, vol. 14, no. 5, August 2010, pp.789-807.