THE "GREAT ALBANIA" AND ITS PREDICTABLE END

The "Great Albania" and its predictable end
By Ioannis Michaletos

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The contradictory nature of a "Great Albania"

The Albanians were the last Balkan nation to have their own nation state and the only one never had a sense of "imperium" or that of an established state structure that could resemble an Empire, such as the Byzantine, Serbian, and Bulgarian. Furthermore the societal makeup of the Albanian world in the Balkans is characterized by the pervasion of “Phares” and “Fis” and a clan system that facilitates an adherence to the local authority and against a centralized power source. Moreover the geographical terrain of Albania and the surrounding territories being sought by nationalists; is mostly rugged mountainous areas, precisely the geopolitical ground on which a state consciousness cannot be created. The history of Albania is the one of autonomous conflict driven mountaineers, such as the Scots in the medieval years. The latter despite their sense of identity and abundance of human resources, were not able to form a state because of their mentality based in autonomous, self – reliant and introvert clans.

In comparison to the Serbian nationalism of the past, the Albanian lacks a central gravity center and a coherent state structure that could facilitate such a development. Even if Kosovo becomes independent it will commercially be dependent by Serbia-Due to its geographical placement- and also a subject of international control. In any other case the Kosovo economy will collapse in matter of weeks and it will create rogue statehood not viable. The vision as marketed by Albanians of a great Albania does not have any chance of becoming a reality, also because of the interests of the nations influencing the Balkans. USA and Russia along with the three larger European states- Germany, UK and France- are driven in relation to their Balkan strategies by the notion of pure interest, alone. In the long-term an isolation of Serbia would mean that any of those powers would risk loosing Belgrade for the sake of the Albanians, a considerably weaker ethnic group in the region. It should not be forgotten that history in the Balkans always favors the ones having access to the axis between the Central European Plainfield-Panonia- and the Aegean coastline. Moreover the axis between the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea. Both of them are still under Serbian rule and no major development could occur in the region without the either consent or coerce of the Serbian party.

The bulk of the Albanian population habituates the South Western part of the Peninsula, thus lacking the power to dictate Pan-Balkan politics. Further the absence of commercial-geoeconomic routes of importance, further derails any plans of creating a Great Albania, even with the assistance of another influential state. Simply the importance of the Albanian world lies mostly in the ability of it to create setbacks in Balkan developments, but not able to either control them or even construct them.

The only case that could be commented in the above hypothesis is an action by hot-tempered Albanian elements in FYR Macedonia. That would ultimately be a high risk strategy because it will instinctively meet the reaction of Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria thus isolating the Albanian world by its neighbors and obliterate chances for a peaceful existence of Albania for years to come. Of course such a development is always present and cannot be excluded.

Lastly the Albanian nationalistic driven vision of Grand Albania is deficient in another highly important element needed to create viable conditions for its success. That is the cultural supremacy notion. There are various elements within the Albanian Diaspora that portray the image of the Albanians as the descendants of the Illyrians and thus claim most of the Western Balkans as their natural territory. Leaving aside the historical arguments in another discourse; the actual cultural basis of the Great Albania propagators is rather feeble.

The Greeks during their nationalistic endeavors in the 19th Century were driven by the ancient Greek classical civilization or the Byzantine past, whilst the Serbians or the Bulgarians were eager to point out their supremacy in the Balkans in the Middle Age and their rich and colorful history, ecclesiastic monuments, arts & sciences and so on. The Albanians being a nation mostly isolated in the mountains and far away from the centers of commerce, industry and art; were not apt in creating such a historical legacy. Their adherence into serving foreign powers such as the Byzantine Greeks, the Venetians or the Ottoman Turks has created a deep sense of dependency in their foreign policy in a far greater percent than the rest of their neighbors. If one assumes that history is the most suitable guide for the future, then a sure prediction is that the Albanian nation will eventually face the fallacy of creating a “Great Albania” and become accustomed into mending the broken ties with its neighboring states. That would seem not only the logical development, but also a way forward for the rest of the region.

In any other case, an independence for Kosovo, would just create an international protectorate unable to control the all-powerful organized crime networks and prone to become subject of external Islamic control. The current climate in the international community has to an extent realized that a continuation of this irrational situation will only serve the interests of radical Muslims and it will enchase the role of Russia in the region.

Kosovo is once again the focal point of the Balkans, a regional hub on which long standing illusions evaporate and geopolitical realities face doomed ideologies.


Pertinent Links:

1) The "Great Albania" and its predictable end