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Modern Albania

From Dictatorship to Democracy in Europe
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In the early 1990s, Albania, arguably Europe's most closed and repressive state, began a startling transition out of forty years of self-imposed Communist isolation. Albanians who were not allowed to practice religion, travel abroad, wear jeans, or read "decadent" Western literature began to devour the outside world. They opened cafes, companies, and newspapers. Previously banned rock music blared in the streets. Modern Albania offers a vivid history of the Albanian Communist regime's fall and the trials and tribulations that led the country to become the state it is today. The book provides an in-depth look at the Communists' last Politburo meetings and the first student revolts, the fall of the Stalinist regime, the outflows of refugees, the crash of the massive pyramid-loan schemes, the war in neighboring Kosovo, and Albania's relationship with the United States. Fred Abrahams weaves together personal experience from more than twenty years of work in Albania, interviews with key Albanians and foreigners who played a role in the country's politics since 1990-including former Politburo members, opposition leaders, intelligence agents, diplomats, and founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army-and a close examination of hundreds of previously secret government records from Albania and the United States. A rich, narratively-driven account, Modern Albania gives readers a front-row seat to the dramatic events of the last battle of Cold War Europe.
Contents Part I. Out of the Dark: The Leader's Demise, 1985-1990 1. Hoxha's Heart 15 2. Fences Fall 28 3. The System Shakes 41 Part II. Blinded by Light: The Democratic Movement, 1990-1992 4. Student City 51 5. A Democratic Party 65 6. Vote for the Future 84 Part III. Red to Blue: Democratic Party Rules, 1992-1996 7. Rebuild the State 113 8. One-Party Town 127 9. The Fall 145 Part IV. Blinded by Gold: Crash of the Pyramids, 1997 10. Profiteers' Pact 169 11. Revolt 180 12. A Horrible End 204 Part V. Return to Red: Ex-Communists Rule, 1998 13. Democracy 2.0 225 14. Illegal but Necessary 232 15. A Shot, a Coup 236 Part VI. Red and Black: The Kosovo War, 1998-1999 16. Argument of Force 247 17. A Formula 256 18. To War 266 Part VII. Black and Blue: Battered Politics of Transition, 2000-2014 19. Busts in Our Heads 275 20. The Doctor Is Back 281 21. Pendulum Swing 292 Epilogue 297
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