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Feature
Pilgrimage to Albania
The most interesting places to visit are often those furthest from the beaten path.
(Page 2 of 2)
After barely surviving the '90s, Albania finally got things together, and eventually established a market-based economy with a reasonably workable legal system. German and Greek banks abound, and Albanians have their own currency and a central bank. Albania is a member of NATO, and has applied for membership in the European Union, although it will be a long time before it’s admitted. While annual per capita income is reported at about $3,000, some 80 percent of the economy remains underground and unreported, and foreign investment is mostly limited to beachside hotels and condos (and the beaches are beautiful, largely unspoiled, and property is cheap). The bulk of foreign trade is made up of the 15 percent of GDP remitted to relatives from citizens working abroad.
ALBANIANS ARE A FRIENDLY LOT — helpful, well mannered, hospitable, and even pro-American. The American they love the most is George W. Bush, probably the only U.S. president who ever visited, whose name is found on bars and streets, and for whom a statue will soon be erected just outside Tirana. Albanian leaders seem to have a centuries-old addiction to power struggles undertaken at the expense of the people, who would probably rather be left alone to raise their cows and their children. These people seem to accept, with good humor, the residue of their police state — an antiquated and almost feudal farming system, rusting factories and power plants, mostly built by the Chinese, and lots of those awful concrete block apartment buildings from the Communist era. And they even accept, if begrudgingly, the fact that they were so abused by their dear Communist leader for so many years. As one told me, when I asked him about it, “We were all spied on, but then we were all spies.”
After 45 years of brutal Communist dictatorship and 20 years of struggling to undo it, Albania has finally established the outlines of a democratic government, the rule of law, and a free market. Although it stands at a crossroads, even a short visit renews one’s faith in the human spirit, and revives hope that the culture of this country will continue to reawaken and its people continue their return to faith as they rediscover what freedom means.
About the Author
Alfred S. Regnery is a former publisher of The American Spectator. He is the former president and publisher of Regnery Publishing, Inc., which produced twenty-two New York Times bestsellers during his tenure. Regnery also served in the Justice Department during the Reagan Administration, worked on the U.S. Senate staff, and has been in private law practice. He currently serves on several corporate and non-profit boards, and is the Chairman of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute .
His first book, Upstream: The Ascendance of American Conservatism, was published in 2008. The book has been praised as one of the best authoritative accounts on the history of the American conservative movement.
Ryan| 10.1.10 @ 8:52AM
A pleasant read. The more I look at it, the more I think that I would like to visit parts of Eastern Europe - unspoiled by major tourism.
Pat| 10.1.10 @ 11:24AM
Thought this was interesting!
audax| 10.1.10 @ 2:55PM
Ryan, better get here quick as there isn't much of Eastern Europe "unspoiled by major tourism" left to visit, but still some very pleasant and rustic places to see, or live in.
A Texan in Slovakia
serfer62| 10.1.10 @ 4:03PM
I suggest Uzbekistan. I was deployed there 5 years ago woking with native troops for 18 months. Spent all my R&Rs; & vacation time in country alone.
Great food, water from bottles only though, great friendly people, cities thousands of years old, historical (people who passed through were Genghis Khan, Marco Polo, Alexander the Great, Amir Temer or Tamerlaine and me).
Dollars will buy anything, everything is cheap even after they soak the tourists, craftsmenship beyound amazing...and they love Americans. Traveled the fabled Silk Road 1k by myself. Great Place
BackToBasics| 10.2.10 @ 1:29AM
Your last paragraph - "After 45 years of brutal Communist dictatorship and 20 years of struggling to undo it, Albania has finally established the outlines of a democratic government, the rule of law, and a free market. Although it stands at a crossroads, EVEN A SHORT VISIT RENEWS ONE'S FAITH IN THE HUMAN SPIRIT..."
I understand your point but I wonder why it is that some countries never seem to reach even this fragile begining that you describe. Unless they have oil or other resources, most Islamic countries seem to founder forever. Albania is only part Muslim. If it were 100% Muslim and has few resources that I am aware of, I wonder if it would be in the same condition as let's say Afghanistan rather than the proto-democracy and free-market beginings you desribe?
Stormzeye| 10.3.10 @ 10:25AM
Remember that the Albanians were once conquered by the Romans. They have that strong foundation of the Judeo-Christian ethic and rule of law to build upon. Afghanistan and some of the most virulent countries in the Middle East eliminated all traces of Christianity and Judaism long ago through the sword. Remember that Islam means "submission". Overcoming the crushing of the human spirit that is Communism is just as difficult as overcoming the strait jacket of Wahabism which Albania never experienced.
wolfy Ghalkhani| 10.3.10 @ 8:34PM
So true. Actually, the middle east and central Asian countries had a very strong Christian presence, but it was Tamer the Lame who dealt the death blow (over 30 million people murdered and Persia nearly wiped out according to some scholars), and under complete Islamic gov't control the entire region sank into mediocrity. Very Sad!
Fllad| 10.2.10 @ 10:26AM
A very interesting read indeed.
To 'BackToBasics' It should be said Albanians, unlike muslim countries, view them selfs as Alabanian, one race. the right self identifying order is Family, albanian then whatever you belive in. Also talking to people some seem to view religious groups like they're some sort of political party bent on controling/influencing the countrys path and interest to their own.
GKPAL| 10.3.10 @ 11:17AM
Interesting and informative article. However, you failed to mention the thriving drug trade throughout the Balkans, controlled by Albanians. It is estimated that 90% of the drugs entering Greece come from Albania and distributed by the Albanian criminals trough out Greece. Over 30% of the prison population in Greece is Albanian. That is not to say that there are not good and hard working Albanians in Greece. The majority of them is indeed good and decent.
Albanian| 10.3.10 @ 1:21PM
Glad to read a very objective point of view. Sometimes it takes more than ten days for people to realize what this gentleman has done, and we Albanians find it difficult to swallow when all sorts of thoughts, opinions are thrown out there and scattered for the world to learn..This article is a pleasure to read, bears many truths and is highly recommended to anyone who want to do research on Albania in terms of what it was, why it was like that and what is the future holding for her.
Yes, it is true, we Albanians have some strong roots and in the due course of history many were damaged, and as long as we are aware of that ,we will slowly but surely will rebuild ourselves and the society. But first though, we need to clean and heal that BIG wound that Communism caused. It is still alive and hurting. It actually is the only obstacle towards reconciliation and progress and once the sins are repented ,the healing will begin, but is not a full examination of conscience and that where the focus should be now...
"Albania's long wait in the delivery room" is an article that relates to the subject and perhaps one should also read. It can be found at www.gazetadielli.com
Again, thanks for this post, it was wonderful to read!
Dave Hill| 10.3.10 @ 9:44PM
Love the article.
Love Albania. I have been there several times and have great Albanian friends as a result. I've travelled to a few dozen countries and this is my favorite!
How far they've come.
John| 10.4.10 @ 2:55PM
Hi Alfred,
I have been waiting for your article for three weeks. I think the article is very kind and fair but a little disapointing because I was aspecting a "brutally" true description. Perhaps it is hard to be "brutal" if you have visited the country only once and for a week. I am Albanian and left 20 years ago for US. As a conservator, I was interested to see a comparison on why and how culture matter. Thanks John.
justine| 10.4.10 @ 4:12PM
Yes, Albanians was always good at suckering somebody. Italians, Russians, Chinese and now Germans and Americans. The "noble savage" analogies in the article are impressive while delusionary.
But the truth is quite different. Albanian is an expansionistand predatory entity. Thanks to American gullibility,
Albanians were awarderd Kosovo a province
which doesnot belong to them. America has in fact created a sancuary country for crime syndicates that control European
prostitution, drugs and human organ trafficking,(the infamous yellow house scandal).It is the Albanian mafia that controls the country and why you see so many mercededses in Tirana. Yet this
article supports American
democracy building delusionary foreign policy. Frankly the author should know better even though I am convinced that he had a splendid vacation. For the next trip I suggest Montenegro and then Georgia. At least they do not trade in human parts.
alda| 10.5.10 @ 3:18AM
a lot of bigorty and misinformation in this site.arabs in syria ,jodran ,palestine consider themselves one race even if they are muslims or christain or druze.