A first impression of Thethi, on arrival after a bone-shattering many-hour drive over high mounta... more A first impression of Thethi, on arrival after a bone-shattering many-hour drive over high mountains, is one of wonderment. The pristine magnificence of the surrounding mountain peaks; the purity of the fast flowing River Shala; the naturally forested quietness of this valley without motorized vehicles; the many vernacular local stone houses; and the gentle curiosity and welcome of locals, especially children, all these combine to create a Shangri-La-a vision of peacefulness and harmony, in a virtually hidden valley, at times cut off by snow from the outside world. Given his lifelong interest in Albania, Hibbert must have experienced a similar feeling of wonderment during his first journey in Albania, into which he parachuted in l943 1. Returning to the region many times throughout his life, and a "brave advocate" of a country which was both physically and socially isolated for decades after WWII, Hibbert witnessed several points of transition in Albania's political history that have shaped its development: post-WWII shift to communism, end of the communist period in the early 1990s and upheaval associated with the shift to a market economy. On a national scale, these drastic political and economic changes have been well documented by many scholars, including Hibbert himself. However, it is also interesting to consider the impacts of such transitions and development on a smaller or rural scale, which could be very effective in illuminating not only economic trends, but also environmental, social, and cultural impacts of such events. Since the majority of Albania's population was scattered rurally in villages throughout the country until urban migration and depopulation of rural areas set in post-communism 2 , it is relevant to investigate these impacts on the village-level. 1 The Independent, Obituaries "Sir Reginald Hibbert: Albanologist and former ambassador in Paris", 2002. 2 Hall, D. Rural tourism development in southeastern Europe: transition and the search for sustainability.
Brunnbauer's experience of working for a year with immigrants (in lieu of military service), gave... more Brunnbauer's experience of working for a year with immigrants (in lieu of military service), gave him insight into migrant agency and the enormous significance of migrant networks and middlemen as well as the paranoia of the state concerning the policing of migration. The stated aim of his book is to highlight the problematic relationship between migrations, state-building and nationalism in Southeastern Europe, with a core theme being the relationship between territory, human movement and political intervention. This concern relates to emigration policy, which has been completely overshadowed by concern for immigration policy. Brunnbauer starts his book by using the example from Fiume (Rijeka) in 1865, then in the Austrian Empire, when it issued 438 passports, almost all to enable men to join the international workforce on the construction of the Suez Canal. Thereafter the overwhelming majority of emigration was to the US. Brunnbauer gives examples of several large groups of emigrants within the Balkan countries for various kinds of work, throughout the 19th century. After the First World War, receiving countries placed immigration restrictions, thus affecting the countries of emigration. A 1921 Law on emigration attempted to extract taxes from those who left the country. A later wave of
... Acknowledgments Professor Marjorie Senechal, Rosie Swale, Janie Vinson, Jelka Vince-Pallua, L... more ... Acknowledgments Professor Marjorie Senechal, Rosie Swale, Janie Vinson, Jelka Vince-Pallua, Lala Meredith-Vula (with her account of Raba), Julie Wheelright, John Wood, Philip Wynn, Ferhat Ymeri and Leonora Zefi, and most especially all those proud people, living ...
Well documented in the past, the phenomenon known as "sworn virgins " was thought to ha... more Well documented in the past, the phenomenon known as "sworn virgins " was thought to have been eradicated under the Communist regime.2 They are not always recognizable, for once their parents, or they themselves usually as children or adolescents, make the vow to become male they dress and behave accordingly, and as such are totally accepted and even revered within their communities. The reasons for this female-to-male cross-gender role are various. Early records refer predominantly to this as the only acceptable alternative to not marrying the man to whom a woman was betrothed (thereby saving the honor of all involved). Until the l920s, up to 30 % of the male population died violent deaths, putting a specially high value on male descendants. Not infrequently the shortage of boys was redressed by designating a daughter henceforth to become a son. This tradition has remained alive in the Northern Albanian Alps, where bloodfeuds are being revived. The following paper results...
The Albanian blood feud (gjakmarrja) is here documented through survey data and oral narratives o... more The Albanian blood feud (gjakmarrja) is here documented through survey data and oral narratives of feud incidents in order to assess how these conflicts are initiated, the chro-nological sequence of events that involve the victim, the perpetrator and corresponding kin-groups along with parties involved in the mediation of the feud and the intervention strategies that are practised, and how these are informed by multiple understandings of customary law. Within an honour-driven context, gjakmarrja is a way of redressing the loss of an individual’s or family’s honour (nder). In a context where individual actors and kin-groups accumulate a feud performance history, blood feud regulates the flow of public insults upon individuals ’ and kin-groups ’ moral and social worth in both private and public domains. Our data further suggest that diverse understandings of the traditional law locally known as kanun inform feud relations. Enactment and re-enactment proce-dures do not always culminate...
Northern Albania is known for its patriarchal social system-strict traditional oral laws dictate ... more Northern Albania is known for its patriarchal social system-strict traditional oral laws dictate definitive gender roles. As a 'sworn virgin' a woman breaks from societal expectations but also reinforces the traditional culture. The need for the 'sworn virgin' may be reduced as changes in society bring acceptance of non-traditional family groups and roles.
The paper outlines the plan to establish the first Balkans Peace Park (B3P) on the borders of Alb... more The paper outlines the plan to establish the first Balkans Peace Park (B3P) on the borders of Albania, Montenegro and Kosova/o. This project is at the cutting edge of both peace and environmental agendas. Being concerned with an area of outstanding natural beauty which is hard to access, and also involving co-operation between government authorities in three different countries, the project’s realisation is also particularly challenging.
Sarner's hardback book is a revision of his pamphlet The Jews of Albania (Brunswick Press, l992. ... more Sarner's hardback book is a revision of his pamphlet The Jews of Albania (Brunswick Press, l992. 44p. plus photographic plates) which he wrote with Joseph Jakoel and Felicita Jakoel.
A first impression of Thethi, on arrival after a bone-shattering many-hour drive over high mounta... more A first impression of Thethi, on arrival after a bone-shattering many-hour drive over high mountains, is one of wonderment. The pristine magnificence of the surrounding mountain peaks; the purity of the fast flowing River Shala; the naturally forested quietness of this valley without motorized vehicles; the many vernacular local stone houses; and the gentle curiosity and welcome of locals, especially children, all these combine to create a Shangri-La-a vision of peacefulness and harmony, in a virtually hidden valley, at times cut off by snow from the outside world. Given his lifelong interest in Albania, Hibbert must have experienced a similar feeling of wonderment during his first journey in Albania, into which he parachuted in l943 1. Returning to the region many times throughout his life, and a "brave advocate" of a country which was both physically and socially isolated for decades after WWII, Hibbert witnessed several points of transition in Albania's political history that have shaped its development: post-WWII shift to communism, end of the communist period in the early 1990s and upheaval associated with the shift to a market economy. On a national scale, these drastic political and economic changes have been well documented by many scholars, including Hibbert himself. However, it is also interesting to consider the impacts of such transitions and development on a smaller or rural scale, which could be very effective in illuminating not only economic trends, but also environmental, social, and cultural impacts of such events. Since the majority of Albania's population was scattered rurally in villages throughout the country until urban migration and depopulation of rural areas set in post-communism 2 , it is relevant to investigate these impacts on the village-level. 1 The Independent, Obituaries "Sir Reginald Hibbert: Albanologist and former ambassador in Paris", 2002. 2 Hall, D. Rural tourism development in southeastern Europe: transition and the search for sustainability.
Brunnbauer's experience of working for a year with immigrants (in lieu of military service), gave... more Brunnbauer's experience of working for a year with immigrants (in lieu of military service), gave him insight into migrant agency and the enormous significance of migrant networks and middlemen as well as the paranoia of the state concerning the policing of migration. The stated aim of his book is to highlight the problematic relationship between migrations, state-building and nationalism in Southeastern Europe, with a core theme being the relationship between territory, human movement and political intervention. This concern relates to emigration policy, which has been completely overshadowed by concern for immigration policy. Brunnbauer starts his book by using the example from Fiume (Rijeka) in 1865, then in the Austrian Empire, when it issued 438 passports, almost all to enable men to join the international workforce on the construction of the Suez Canal. Thereafter the overwhelming majority of emigration was to the US. Brunnbauer gives examples of several large groups of emigrants within the Balkan countries for various kinds of work, throughout the 19th century. After the First World War, receiving countries placed immigration restrictions, thus affecting the countries of emigration. A 1921 Law on emigration attempted to extract taxes from those who left the country. A later wave of
... Acknowledgments Professor Marjorie Senechal, Rosie Swale, Janie Vinson, Jelka Vince-Pallua, L... more ... Acknowledgments Professor Marjorie Senechal, Rosie Swale, Janie Vinson, Jelka Vince-Pallua, Lala Meredith-Vula (with her account of Raba), Julie Wheelright, John Wood, Philip Wynn, Ferhat Ymeri and Leonora Zefi, and most especially all those proud people, living ...
Well documented in the past, the phenomenon known as "sworn virgins " was thought to ha... more Well documented in the past, the phenomenon known as "sworn virgins " was thought to have been eradicated under the Communist regime.2 They are not always recognizable, for once their parents, or they themselves usually as children or adolescents, make the vow to become male they dress and behave accordingly, and as such are totally accepted and even revered within their communities. The reasons for this female-to-male cross-gender role are various. Early records refer predominantly to this as the only acceptable alternative to not marrying the man to whom a woman was betrothed (thereby saving the honor of all involved). Until the l920s, up to 30 % of the male population died violent deaths, putting a specially high value on male descendants. Not infrequently the shortage of boys was redressed by designating a daughter henceforth to become a son. This tradition has remained alive in the Northern Albanian Alps, where bloodfeuds are being revived. The following paper results...
The Albanian blood feud (gjakmarrja) is here documented through survey data and oral narratives o... more The Albanian blood feud (gjakmarrja) is here documented through survey data and oral narratives of feud incidents in order to assess how these conflicts are initiated, the chro-nological sequence of events that involve the victim, the perpetrator and corresponding kin-groups along with parties involved in the mediation of the feud and the intervention strategies that are practised, and how these are informed by multiple understandings of customary law. Within an honour-driven context, gjakmarrja is a way of redressing the loss of an individual’s or family’s honour (nder). In a context where individual actors and kin-groups accumulate a feud performance history, blood feud regulates the flow of public insults upon individuals ’ and kin-groups ’ moral and social worth in both private and public domains. Our data further suggest that diverse understandings of the traditional law locally known as kanun inform feud relations. Enactment and re-enactment proce-dures do not always culminate...
Northern Albania is known for its patriarchal social system-strict traditional oral laws dictate ... more Northern Albania is known for its patriarchal social system-strict traditional oral laws dictate definitive gender roles. As a 'sworn virgin' a woman breaks from societal expectations but also reinforces the traditional culture. The need for the 'sworn virgin' may be reduced as changes in society bring acceptance of non-traditional family groups and roles.
The paper outlines the plan to establish the first Balkans Peace Park (B3P) on the borders of Alb... more The paper outlines the plan to establish the first Balkans Peace Park (B3P) on the borders of Albania, Montenegro and Kosova/o. This project is at the cutting edge of both peace and environmental agendas. Being concerned with an area of outstanding natural beauty which is hard to access, and also involving co-operation between government authorities in three different countries, the project’s realisation is also particularly challenging.
Sarner's hardback book is a revision of his pamphlet The Jews of Albania (Brunswick Press, l992. ... more Sarner's hardback book is a revision of his pamphlet The Jews of Albania (Brunswick Press, l992. 44p. plus photographic plates) which he wrote with Joseph Jakoel and Felicita Jakoel.
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