6 - Interwar Albania: The Rise of Authoritarianism, 1925–1939

Summary

Chapter 6 traces Albania’s descent into authoritarianism under the regimes of Zogu. Albania is first transformed into a republic with Zogu as president wielding considerable executive power. Within four years he abandoned the republic and created a monarchy and ruled as King Zog with unfettered power. With politics removed as a obstacle to unity and stability, Zog proceeded to attempt to create a nation out of disparate religious and cultural communities. The results are mixed at best as desperate economic conditions drove the king into increasing dependence on Mussolini’s Italy. The funds obtained are poorly allocated and necessary reforms, like agrarian reform, are not implemented as the king relied too heavily on the support of major landowners. The Italians, in the meantime, insinuated themselves into most aspects of government and the administration to the extent that Albania became little more than an Italian colonial outpost. Not satisfied with anything less that complete control, Mussolini is finally convinced by German moves elsewhere in the Balkans, and by his foreign minister’s insistence that Albania contained vast riches in terms of natural resources, to invade and annex Albania, driving the king and his family into exile. The chapter concludes with an evaluation of the achievements and failures of the Zog era.