From State-Building to Integration: A Comparative Analysis of Albania’s Strategies toward Neighbours and Great Powers (1920–1924 vs. Post-1990)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.1211.19634Keywords:
Albanian foreign policy, small states, League of Nations, NATO integration, Balkan security, Euro-Atlantic institutions, diplomatic adaptationAbstract
This article offers a comparative analysis of Albania’s foreign-policy behaviour during two structurally distinct periods: the formative years 1920–1924, marked by existential threats to sovereignty, and the post-1990 era, characterised by democratic transition and deep Euro-Atlantic integration. Drawing on extensive archival materials including documents from the Albanian State Archives, League of Nations records, Italian diplomatic correspondence and British Foreign Office files the study demonstrates that early Albanian diplomacy was shaped by acute geopolitical vulnerability, regional revisionism and limited administrative capacity. Albania relied heavily on the League of Nations, legal appeals and the strategic exploitation of great-power rivalries to counter Yugoslav, Greek and Italian pressures.
In contrast, the post-1990 period reveals an environment transformed by institutional density and security guarantees. NATO membership, EU conditionality and strengthened bilateral partnerships (particularly with the United States, Italy and Turkey) have shifted Albania’s diplomacy from survival-driven improvisation to structured, rules-based engagement. Yet despite the profound systemic differences, the analysis identifies strong continuity in Albania’s strategic repertoire: reliance on multilateral institutions, diversification of alliances, and the internationalisation of disputes.
The article argues that these long-term behavioural patterns reflect the enduring logic of small-state adaptation. By tracing how Albania moved from a contested periphery in the 1920s to an institutionalised Euro-Atlantic actor today, the study contributes to scholarship on small-state diplomacy, regional security and the role of international institutions in shaping foreign-policy trajectories. Methodologically, the article applies a structured comparative historical analysis across the two periods.The findings highlight that Albania’s strategic resilience derives less from material capabilities than from effective institutional anchoring and calibrated diplomatic balancing.
References
Books, Academic Articles, Theory and General Literature Abbott, K. W. (1999). The concept of legalization. International Organization, 54(3), 401–419.
Abbott, K. W., & Snidal, D. (1998). Why states act through formal international organizations. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 42(1), 3–32.
Aarbakke, V. (2016). The Greeks of Albania: The Greek minority in the southern districts. Balkan Studies Press.
Baltsiotis, L. (2011). The Muslim Chams of Northwestern Greece. European Journal of Turkish Studies, 12, 1–27.
Bailes, A. (2009). Small states and security: Raising the risks. Icelandic Review of Politics and Administration, 5(2), 1–15.
Bechev, D. (2018). Rival power: Russia in Southeast Europe. Yale University Press.
Bechev, D. (2019). The EU and the Western Balkans after 2000: Why the EU matters. Routledge.
Bieber, F. (2018). Patterns of competitive authoritarianism in the Western Balkans. East European Politics, 34(3), 337–354.
Bieber, F. (2020). The rise of authoritarianism in the Western Balkans. Palgrave Macmillan.
Bozo, F. (2013). The fragile equilibrium: Small states in international politics. Cambridge University Press.
Browning, C. (2006). Small states and security: The case of Estonia. Cambridge Review of International Affairs,
Myrta, R. (2025). From State-Building to Integration: A Comparative Analysis of Albania’s Strategies toward Neighbours and Great Powers (1920–1924 vs. Post-1990). Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 12(11). 158-177.
Buzan, B. (1991). People, states and fear. Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Carbone, M. (2010). Italy and Albania: Domestic challenges and foreign policy strategies. Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans, 12(2), 157–172.
Caruso, R. (2020). Italy’s strategic role in the Adriatic. Mediterranean Quarterly, 31(3), 42–59.
Cooper, A. (1997). Niche diplomacy: Middle powers after the Cold War. Palgrave Macmillan.
Cooper, A., & Shaw, T. (2009). The diplomacies of small states. Palgrave.
Cornell, S. (2017). Small states in world politics: The persistence of vulnerability. Routledge.
David, S. (1991). Explaining third world alignment. World Politics, 43(2), 233–256.
Deni, J. (2017). NATO and collective security in the 21st century. Parameters, 47(2), 25–36.
Elbasani, A. (2013). European integration and transformation in the Western Balkans. Routledge.
Elbasani, A., & Šabić, S. (2021). EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. Journal of Balkan Studies, 2(1), 51–73.
European Commission. (2001–2022). Annual progress reports on Albania. European Union Publications.
Fischer, B. (1999). Albania at war, 1939–1945. Purdue University Press.
Ghebali, V. (1972). La Société des Nations et les frontières albanaises. Droz.
George, A. (2005). Case studies and theory development. MIT Press.
Gürdeniz, C. (2015). Turkey’s naval diplomacy in Albania. Turkish Policy Quarterly, 14(3), 93–105.
Hey, J. (2003). Introducing small state foreign policy. In The Foreign Policies of Small States (pp. 1–11).
Hionidis, P. (1924). The Greek minority question in Albania. Athens Press.
Ingebritsen, C. (2006). Small states in international relations. University of Washington Press.
Jervis, R. (1978). Cooperation under the security dilemma. World Politics, 30(2), 167–214.
Keohane, R. (1969). Lilliputians' dilemmas: Small states in international politics. International Organization, 23(2), 291–310.
Keohane, R. (2005). After hegemony. Princeton University Press.
Krasniqi, G. (2020). Albania’s foreign policy orientation. Journal of Balkan Politics, 8(2), 109–126.
Kuik, C. (2008). The essence of hedging. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 30(2), 159–184.
Kupchan, C. (2012). No one’s world. Oxford University Press.
Lake, D. (2009). Hierarchy in international relations. Cornell University Press.
Mahoney, J. (2004). Comparative-historical methodology. Annual Review of Sociology, 30, 81–101.
Ministry of Defence of Albania. (2014). Security Reform Report.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania. (1992–2019). Foreign Policy Concepts.
NATO. (1999–2019). Membership Action Plans.
NATO. (2009). Accession documents of Albania.
Öktem, K., & Akkoyunlu, K. (2016). Turkey’s Western Balkans policy. Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 16(3), 403–423.
OSCE. (1997–2013). Reports on Albania.
Petersen, J. (2020). Albania as OSCE Chairmanship. OSCE Journal, 26(1), 11–22.
Phillips, D. (2012). Liberating Kosovo: Coercive diplomacy and U.S. policy. MIT Press.
Pula, B. (2018). Globalization under and after socialism. Stanford University Press. 175 RCC – Regional Cooperation Council. (2020). Connectivity reports.
Republic of Albania. (2014). National Security Strategy.
Ringsmose, J. (2010). NATO and deterrence. Defense Studies, 10(4), 481–499.
Rynning, S. (2011). NATO renewal. International Affairs, 87(4), 765–780.
Schimmelfennig, F. (2010). EU political conditionality. European Union Politics, 11(3), 489–512.
Schimmelfennig, F., & Sedelmeier, U. (2005). The Europeanization of Central and Eastern Europe. Cornell University Press.
Schimmelfennig, F., & Sedelmeier, U. (2017). Compliance in the Western Balkans. Journal of European Public Policy, 24(2), 1–19.
Swire, J. (2005). King Zog and the struggle for Albania. IB Tauris.
Thorhallsson, B. (2012). The small states in Europe. European Integration, 34(2), 173–186.
Thorhallsson, B. (2018). Small states and shelter theory. Icelandic Review of Politics, 14(1), 1–23.
Thorhallsson, B., & Steinsson, S. (2017). Small state foreign policy. Global Society, 31(4), 475–495.
UN Peacekeeping. (2021). Albania’s contributions.
Vachudova, M. (2005). Europe undivided: Democracy, leverage, and integration. Oxford University Press.
Vital, D. (1971). The survival of small states. Oxford University Press.
Wallander, C. (2000). NATO’s post-Cold War role. Columbia University Press.
Walt, S. (1987). The origins of alliances. Cornell University Press.
Weller, M. (2009). Contested statehood: Kosovo's declaration of independence. Oxford University Press.
Wendt, A. (1992). Anarchy is what states make of it. International Organization, 46(2), 391–425.
Wivel, A., & Grøn, C. (2021). Small states in changing Europe. Journal of European Integration, 43(1), 1–17.
Wivel, A., & Powers, M. (2020). Hedging in small-state foreign policy. International Affairs, 96(4), 975–995.
Zimmermann, W. (2014). U.S.–Albanian relations. Foreign Affairs Review, 15(2), 87–103.* Archival Sources and Primary Documents AQSH – Central State Archive of Albania (1919–1924).
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1920). Reports to the Conference of Ambassadors (File, pp. 3–7).
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1921–1922). Shkodra – Border Incidents (File, pp. 12–19).
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1921). Diplomatic Protests (File, pp. 5–11).
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1922). Diplomatic Balances (File, pp. 22–28).
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1920). Correspondence with the Italian Legation (File, pp. 4–9).
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1921). The Italian Loan… (File, pp. 14–20)
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1921). Correspondence with Athens (File, pp. 7–12).
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1922). Southern District Circulars (File, pp. 33–38).
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1923). Lausanne (File, pp. 41–48).
AQSH. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fund. (1921). Interstate Relations (File, pp. 25–31).
British National Archives. (1920–1923). Foreign Office Files, FO 371, Albania Series. Kew, London. ASMAECI – Archivio Storico del Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale. (1920–1924). Serie Politica P: Albania. Rome, Italy.
League of Nations. (1921–1923). Council Minutes, Assembly Records, Border Commission Reports. Geneva. 176
Paris Peace Conference Papers. (1921). Claims regarding Northern Epirus. Paris.
NARA – U.S. National Archives. (1921). Record Group 59: State Department Files – Albania: Political Affairs.
Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi. (1923). HR.İD Correspondence: Turkey–Albania.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Rexhina Myrta
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
