Albania: the Development of a Developing Country
Albania: The Development of a Developing Country
Albania, a small country located in Southeastern Europe, is a nation that does not have a true identity its people are Muslim and Christian, it is a country that is both and poor, it is as much urban as it is rural, and has evolved from monarchy to socialism and now to fledgling democracy. In other words, Albania and its people have seen it all. The extremes of Albanian society are vivid, and underlying tensions are evident. But Albania is not "another Yugoslavia" there is no doubt that the internal environment of Albania has been and somewhat continues to be tense, although the breaking point has never been fully reached. Albania is a country with a fervently tense past (especially during the Cold War era), yet many people do not know about it, and few would be able to find the country on the map. Despite its beautiful during, its plentiful natural resources, and its extraordinary tradition of hospitality, Albania has always been "the most isolated country in Europe and from World War II until very recently, one of the most isolated countries on earth" ("Real Adventures Albania" 1).
Amongst the booming economies of Europe, Albania is markedly poor, and is trying to make the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. In addition, the government is taking steps to encourage economic growth as well as trade. Albania, according to 2003 estimates, "has a GDP of $16.13 billion, with a per capita GDP of $4,500" ("Albania CIA Factbook" 2) This is an improvement over the Cold War era, in which Albania's economy was a complete disaster still, however, Albania's economy is considerably weak compared to its European neighbors. The economy is helped by "remittances from people abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and Italy, and this money helps lower the sizable trade deficit" ("Real Adventures Albania" 1). Agriculture, which accounts for half of Albania's GDP, is frequently
Albania, a small country located in Southeastern Europe, is a nation that does not have a true identity its people are Muslim and Christian, it is a country that is both and poor, it is as much urban as it is rural, and has evolved from monarchy to socialism and now to fledgling democracy. In other words, Albania and its people have seen it all. The extremes of Albanian society are vivid, and underlying tensions are evident. But Albania is not "another Yugoslavia" there is no doubt that the internal environment of Albania has been and somewhat continues to be tense, although the breaking point has never been fully reached. Albania is a country with a fervently tense past (especially during the Cold War era), yet many people do not know about it, and few would be able to find the country on the map. Despite its beautiful during, its plentiful natural resources, and its extraordinary tradition of hospitality, Albania has always been "the most isolated country in Europe and from World War II until very recently, one of the most isolated countries on earth" ("Real Adventures Albania" 1).
Amongst the booming economies of Europe, Albania is markedly poor, and is trying to make the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. In addition, the government is taking steps to encourage economic growth as well as trade. Albania, according to 2003 estimates, "has a GDP of $16.13 billion, with a per capita GDP of $4,500" ("Albania CIA Factbook" 2) This is an improvement over the Cold War era, in which Albania's economy was a complete disaster still, however, Albania's economy is considerably weak compared to its European neighbors. The economy is helped by "remittances from people abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and Italy, and this money helps lower the sizable trade deficit" ("Real Adventures Albania" 1). Agriculture, which accounts for half of Albania's GDP, is frequently