DEMOCRACY STATE AND AUTOCRATIZATION FEATURES IN THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

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Dorina Bërdufi
Afrim Krasniqi

Abstract

This article examines the Albanian political regime, as a single case study, for the period 2013-2021, as part of the Western Balkans' experience of democratic backsliding, by investigating the framework of factors linked with the formidable challenge posed by the emergence of a hybrid regime of Albania in these years. For the first time in Albania’s post-communist history, the incumbent Socialist Party of Albania won for the third time in a row the parliamentary elections of April 2021, thus making the bid for the power of the leading opposition parties much harder. This paper uses country-expert statistical data from V-Dem and qualitative data analyses. The study reveals that the over-reliance on strong leaders, the growing government control over public life, fragmentation of the opposition, its lack of appeal, organization, and mobilization, the boycott of the parliamentary mandates, combined with the weakening role of media and distrust of the citizens in democratic institutions, led to the resurgence of the authoritarian mechanisms, making the liberal democratic transformation in Albania an increasingly challenging task.

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How to Cite
Bërdufi, Dorina, and Afrim Krasniqi. 2022. “DEMOCRACY STATE AND AUTOCRATIZATION FEATURES IN THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA”. Journal of Liberty and International Affairs 8 (3):34-46. https://doi.org/10.47305/JLIA2283034b.
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Articles
Author Biographies

Dorina Bërdufi, Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës, Albania

Dorina Berdufi is a Doctor of Political Science. She is the Director of the Political Science Department, Faculty of Political Science and Law, Aleksandër Moisiu University. Dr. Bërdufi earned her Doctorate degree from the University of Tirana defending the thesis “Dynamics of the electorate voting behavior in the Republic of Albania during the post-communist period [Case of Tirana’s electorate]”. Berdufi is an expert in the field of politics with a main focus on political parties, governance, elections, voters, and scientific research in politics. She is the author of a number of scientific articles in her field of expertise. The academic work of Dr. Bërdufi goes parallel to her engagement in national and international research projects in the field of politics.

Afrim Krasniqi, Academy of Albanian Studies and Albanian Institute for Political Studies

Afrim Krasniqi is a professor of political science and contemporary history. He is director of the Institute of History, Academy of Albanian Studies and Executive Director of the Albanian Institute for Political Studies (AIPS). Professor Krasniqi earned his Doctorate title from the University of Tirana, defending the thesis “South Eastern Europe in the post-communist period: Analysis on the party and governmental systems”. He holds a master’s degree from Viadrina University (Frankfurt Oder, Germany). Afrim was a Member of the Albanian Assembly and worked as a political adviser to two Albanian presidents. Professor Krasniqi appears as a columnist and political commentator on different media platforms in Albania and the Balkans. He has published many monographs, books, studies and articles about the political system, party politics, civil society, elections and democracy in Albania and South Eastern European (SEE) countries.