Austrian historian Oliver Jens Schmitt has emphasized that Albania and Kosovo are increasingly forming distinct national identities, shaped by their separate historical trajectories and divergent political developments in the 20th century.
Speaking to KTV, Schmitt explained that the existence of two separate Albanian states in the Balkans is now a daily influence on the creation of new social identities.
“This differentiation isn’t just about calling someone ‘Shqiptar’ or ‘Kosovar’ – it reflects the radically different historical experiences that followed the territorial split of Albanian lands after 1918,” he said.
Key Factors: Enverist Isolation vs. Yugoslav Openness
Schmitt drew a stark contrast between:
- Albania under Enver Hoxha, which experienced complete isolation, the abolition of private property, religious suppression, and tight state control over daily life through Sigurimi;
- and Kosovo under Yugoslavia, where Albanians had relative freedom of movement, access to foreign goods and technology, and opportunities for external contact.
“In Enverist Albania, private ownership disappeared, religion was erased from public life, and people lived in fear of each other due to state surveillance. Meanwhile, Albanians in Yugoslavia had mobility, access to consumer goods, and maintained connections with the world,” Schmitt noted.
Main Difference: Political Culture
According to Schmitt, these contrasting environments have shaped divergent social consciousness and, more significantly, a fundamental difference in political culture between the two Albanian states.
“Today, the biggest difference between Albania and Kosovo lies in their political culture,” he concluded.
A New Albanian Identity in the 21st Century?
In response, public intellectual Veton Surroi raised a broader question: Could these developments lead to the emergence of entirely new Albanian identities in the 21st century, especially within the diaspora?
Surroi suggested that the Albanian community worldwide is becoming more diverse and dispersed, forming transnational identities beyond traditional state borders.
