Cold War Albania: Fall of Communism (1989-92)

Figure 1.--Albania was one of the most repressive of the Communist regimes in Eastern Europe. The regime maintained a tight control on the borders. Few people were able to escape the country. This tight control began to ease as Communism began to lose it hold in Eastern Europe. The press caption read, "Albanian Refugees: A father carries his two children in his arms after he disembarcked from the Italian ferry Esgrasso Gracia that arrived here [Brinoisi] Friday with the first group of Albanians who had taken refuge in Western embassies in Tirana, Albania. Some 4,500 Albanians are expected to arrive here today on five ferries chrered by Italy, Fance and West Germany." The photograph was dated July 13, 1990.

Ramiz Tafë Alia (1924-2011) was the secomd and last leader of Communist Albania. He was Enver Hoxha's c\hosen sucessor. Alia was already in the process of reegagement with Europe when the Berlin Wall fell (November 1989). Even more important was probably the execution of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife in Romania (December 1989). Alia began accelerating reforms. It is diffficult to avoid the conclusion that he bwas likely to have the same unhappy end if he did not launch radical changes. He agreed to Helsinki Agreement which other countries had adopted in 1975. That meant changes in Albania's policy toward basic human rights. After decades of disaterous Communist rule, Albania was an ecomonic basket case, in even worse shape than the other Communist states in Eastern Europe. An exodous from Albania began. Some of the first refugees began entering Western embassies and claiming asylum (figure 1). Alia under increasing pressure from students and workers, announced that the ALP no longer inisisted on the exclusive right to rule (December 11, 1990). This meant that other political parties could legally organize. He also announced that free elections would be held in spring 1991. Despite the dangers, substantial numbers of people began fleeing the country. With change in the air the border guards became somewhat less vigilent and quick to shoot. Thee first free elections were held (March 31, 1991). Alia's ALP won the elections under a 1991 interim law. It was the first free election in decades. We suspect that the idea of a free electin had not yet sunk in. Despite the electoral victory, change was on the way and it was clear even to ALP stawarts that it could not be stopped. The ALP government fell 2 months later as a result of a general strike. A committee of 'national salvation' took over but collapsed after only 6 months. Once Communist police state border controls were lifted, thousands of Albanians began fleeing accross the Adriatic to Italy seeking jobs, virtually any jobs (August 1991). The Italians returned most of them to Albania. The ALP was decisively defeated by the Democratic Party in national elections. Sali Berisha, a heart surgeon, was elected Albania's first non-Communist president since World War II (April 1992). The Democratic Party began to implement the reforms it had promoted. The problems created by Hoxha and Communism, however, were enormous, not something a new government with limited resources could easily or quickly address.

Created: 3:42 AM 5/17/2019
Last updated: 3:42 AM 5/17/2019