Albania

North of Greece and across the Strait of Otronto—separating the Adriatic and Ionian Seas—from Italy to the west lies Albania. The modern Republic of Albania formed in 1991 from the former Socialist People’s Republic of Albania, which existed under Communist rule since 1944. Prior to that, Albania was invaded by Italy in 1939, becoming a Nazi protectorate in 1943. It originally declared independence in 1912, following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
Proclaimed an “atheist state” during the rule of Communism, Albania saw the destruction of numerous mosques and Islamic libraries and the conversion of religious establishments into community centers and other facilities. Present-day Albania has a majority of Muslims, and a significant minority of Christians, mostly Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, while about a quarter of the population identifies with a minority religion, or none at all.
The country’s economy increasingly relies on tourism around Albania’s extensive beaches and natural wilderness areas. A closed, state-run economy for decades, Albania faces challenges in adapting to become an open, market-driven economy. One of those challenges is the growth in smuggling, particularly illegal drugs, and human trafficking, particularly Albanian women and children lured into servitude with the promise of opportunity abroad.

Type

Geopolitical, Country