The June 2020 edition of the IRMO Brief, authored by Alba Cela and Ledion Krisafi deals with the post-communist challenges in Albania, that proved to be a significant obstacle in country’s attempts to join the EU. A country with a track record of a very rigid and isolated communist regime of Enver Hoxha is coping with a raging conflict between political parties that is deeply rooted in old enmities of transition. This Brief seeks to present and interpret the key features of Albania’s political positioning inside and outside its borders, especially with regards to its regional and European environment, and put forward some predictions about the future related to its regional role.
Challenges to the Transition Process in Albania
