THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF AN ALBANIAN NATION

The communist era of the mid-twentieth century was a pivotal period fo r the coalescence of many national identities. Often Communism provide d the first modern, stable, state governments and infrastructures upon which overarching ideas of identity, such as nationalism, could readi ly grow. The communist era was certainly a crucial one for Albanian na tional ideology and thus it is important to reevaluate Albanian nation alism in the light of the recent ebb of communist hegemony in Eastern Europe. Placing the current issues confronting Albanian ideas of self in perspective by tracing their historical background, we find that th e situation of Albanian-identifying communities, divided among three o r more states and caught between Eastern and Western influences, is fo rcing upon Albanian ideas of self an extreme change from a decidedly i ntroverted to an extroverted ideal. Such forces are counterpoised by p rior ideology regarding Albanian nationalism and the history of the Al banian people, as well as by the perennial Albanian insecurity over is sues of religion. It is from this interplay that the Albanian characte r will evolve and endure.