The role of the International Community as a pivotal and reliable actor in democratic transition in Albania!

By, Prof. Assoc. Mirela BOGDANI

Abstract
The paper analyses the role of various actors in the democratization process in Albania, with specific emphasis on one key participant. It is structured into three distinctive sections: the first identifies the domestic actors in the beginning of transition, such as the political class, civil society, knowledge elite, media etc, highlighting the political class as the most powerful and influential of them. However, the paper argues that instead of being a reliable and responsible factor in the process of democratization and integration, the Albanian political elite has shown a chronic lack of responsibility, willingness, professionalism and commitment to tackle the country’s major problems. Its primary objective has been its own self-interest and self-preservation. On the other hand, since Albania opened up to the world, another actor has been crucial for the country, the international community. The subsequent section focuses on this external actor, which has played a significant role throughout the three-decade transition period. It asserts that inability of local actors to deal with domestic challenges and cooperate with one another have ‘promoted’ this actor, which has been trying to fulfill the role of facilitator and mediator that the state institutions have proved unable to perform. The lack of legitimacy and the unreliability of political parties and other domestic actors have increasingly amplified the importance of this actor. Therefore, the paper argues that legitimacy in Albania lies with the international community and its verdict tends to be considered as final. This is also reflected in public opinion surveys, indicating that Albanian citizens trust much more international than national institutions. The third section analyses the impact and influence exerted by the two most significant external actors: the European Union, whose significance escalated notably post-2000 owing to Albania’s aspirational EU membership, steering reforms and providing financial assistance; and the United States, which, through its diplomats and ambassadors, has been very proactive in Albanian politics, helping the country to overcome persistent problems as corruption and organized crime, and more recently the judiciary reform. The paper concludes that Albanian road towards democratization could have had a different trajectory without the involvement and guidance of the international community pushing for and directing reforms. While acknowledging the significance of assistance from external driving forces, the primary onus for the progress of a country should rest upon its domestic actors.
Keywords: International community, domestic actors, political class, transition, democratization, European integration, the European Union, the United States.