The Albanians

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Albania remains one of the least known nations in the world. This is the first full account of a country that, following decades of isolation, has undergone unprecedented changes to its political system, including the collapse of communism, the progression to multi-party elections, and the upheaval following the March 1997 uprising. Miranda Vickers' book traces the history of the Albanian people from the Ottoman period to the formation of the Albanian Communist Party. She considers the formation of the Albanian Communist Party, the charismatic leadership of Enver Hoxha; Albania's relationship with Tito and the alliance with the Soviet Union and then China; and the long period of isolation. This book considers the gradual process of reform, the regime of Sail Berisha and the fragility of the Albanian experiment with democracy.