Albania In Transition

Book excerpt: In early 1997, Albania's transition to democracy suffered a serious setback when pyramid schemes sparked violent unrest, plunging the country into its worst political and economic crisis since the downfall of communism. The uprisings and subsequent elections, in which the Socialist Party won a landslide victory, have made front-page news in the international community. And Albania's proximity to the Yugoslavian melee and history of extreme radical communism make it a nation to watch.In Albania in Transition, Elez Biberaj provides a comprehensive political profile of Albania since 1989. He charts Albania's transition from one party to many, from a command economy to a market economy, and its transition to a national security state in an unpredictable, post–Cold War international security regime.