Greater Albania

A Greater Albania is the theoretical political movement and nationalist ideal of an Albania with all major Albanian groups and traditional territories united together. The movement emerged in 1878 with the League of Prizren in Kosovo, and due to its origin it is sometimes also referred to as the Greater Kosovo movement. A Greater Albania is the proclaimed aim of some Albanian political and military groups and is also used in a pejorative context referring to allegedly imperialistic Albanian actions. Albanians tend to prefer the term Ethnic Albania in opposition to the recent stigma associated with Greater Albania.

The Young Turk Revolution in 1908 lead to Albanian revolts in Kosovo which was declared independence in 1913, without fixed boundaries and with various claims from its neighbours for its territory of former Serbia and Montenegro state, parts of Kosovo and Metohia {so-colled Durres) and Greece for Epirus.

The justification for the borders presented often includes reference to the situation prior to World War I, racism towards ethnic Albanians in foreign countries (especially former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, See: Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia), and the argument that these pre-war boundaries should be restored.

During World War II, the dream of a Great Albania became a reality with the fall of Yugoslavia in 1941. Great Albania was established under Italian tutelage including Kosovo, Metohia and parts of Vardar Macedonia, Western part of Aegean Macedonia, and parts of Greek's Epirus. Also, some Albanian troops (battalions Dajti, Tomorri, Rozafa, Taraboshi) incorporated into the Italian army from the former royal Albanian army, with the slogans of building a "Greater Albania". Albanian gendarmerie took over the law enforcement tasks from the Italian carabinieri in the end od 1942. Albanian Fascist Party (Partia Fascist Shqipërisë - PFSh) which was founded in 1939 (as part of the Italian PNF) was granted some autonomy and with lid of Maliq bej Bushati (a former member of the PFSh leadership) renamed as the Guard of Great Albania in 1943.

After World War II communist leader Tito had plans for the unification of its client state, Albania, with Kosovo in Yugoslavia. The break between Tito and Stalin in 1948 allowed for independence from Yugoslavia, providing more space for maneuver for Albania, which in the 1960s became a Chinese ally.

Contents

1 Political uses of the concept 2 See also 3 External links 4 References

Political uses of the concept

The degree to which different groups are working towards, and what efforts such groups are undertaking in order to achieve a Greater Albania is disputed. Non-Albanian politicians and ethnic leaders are sometimes accused of using the idea to generate ethnic hatred and fear of Albanian political activities, and to justify policies that undermine political and human rights of Albanian minorities, for example in the Republic of Macedonia, Greece and Serbia.

The term is most frequently used by Serbian nationalist politicians and academics who initially forged the term based on research of Balkan history, particularly the writings of historians such as Noel Malcolm, in order to legitimise their own agends in the previously self-governing province.

See also

• History of Albania
• History of the Balkans

External links

• Perspective: Albania and Kosova by Van Christo (http://www.frosina.org/articles/default.asp?id=89)
• High Albania by M. Edith Durham (http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/durham/albania/albania.html)
• Albanian Identities by Antonina Zhelyazkova (http://www.omda.bg/imir/studies/alban_id31.html#95)
• The Kosovo Chronicles by Dusan Batakovic (http://www.snd-us.com/history/dusan/kc_part2e.htm)

References

• Archivo storico, Ministero degli Affari Esteri (Italy)
• Sottosegretario di Stato per gli Affari Albanesi (the State Undersecretariate for Albanian Affairs) of Italy (1939-1943)
• Dimitrios Triantaphyllou: The Albanian Factor, ELIAMEP, Athens, 2000