From Survivalism to Smart Diplomacy: Albania’s Foreign Policy Transformation

By Blendi LAMI

Abstract

This article explores how Albania’s foreign policy has evolved from an ideology driven strategy of regime survival to a multidimensional and adaptive diplomacy consistent with the behavior of a “smart but small” state. Drawing on document and historical analysis, it examines four key stages of Albania’s external orientation: ideological survivalism during the communist era (1945–1990), strategic realignment in the post-communist transition (1991–2000), Euro-Atlantic consolidation through NATO and EU integration (2000–2020), and the emergence of smart diplomacy in the 2020s. The study argues that Albania’s foreign policy trajectory reflects a gradual transformation from survivalist isolation toward multidimensional behavior that seeks security through alliance, institutional anchoring, and regional pragmatism. By situating Albania’s experience within small-state foreign policy theory, the article highlights how systemic shifts, domestic fragility, and leadership agency have interacted to shape its strategic evolution. The findings suggest that Albania today exhibits the attributes of a “smart but small” model: flexible alignment, active multilateralism, and pragmatic regional engagement.

Keywords: Foreign Policy, Small States, Smart Diplomacy, Euro-Atlantic Integration, Regional Pragmatism, Multilateralism, Foreign Policy Transformation

https://doi.org/10.58944/bwks4661