© Diplomatische Akademie, Wien
Liana Suleymanova, B.A., M.A., M.A.I.S.
PhD candidate at the Interdisciplinary International Studies PhD Programme, jointly organized by Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (Vienna School of International Studies) and University of Vienna, Department of History
Born in 1988 in Sterlitamak, Russia. Graduated from American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) with Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Political Science and International Relations and History (2005-2009); from Central European University (CEU) with a Master of Arts in Central European History (2010-2011); from Diplomatic Academy of Vienna with a Master of Advanced International Studies degree (2011-2013).
Since October 2015, a PhD Candidate at the Interdisciplinary International Studies Programme, jointly organized by Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (Vienna School of International Studies) and University of Vienna, Department of History.
Research interests include: Western Balkans, democratization of post-communist states, historical legacies, hybrid regimes, democratic transition and consolidation, nation- and state-building, post-communist civil society development, making of post-communist elites, European integration, minority rights, media freedom.
E-Mail: liana.suleymanova@da-vienna.at
Abstract
Role of Historical Legacy in the Democratic Transition Process. The Case of Albania, 1991-2016
Democracy came to Albania later than to other countries and at first the country seemed to possess a perfect atmosphere for a smooth power structure change: people welcomed democracy with open arms, newly created civil society was strongly advocating the necessity to get rid of “everything communist” and to start building Albania’s democratic future. The enthusiasm faded quickly when faced with the reality of persistent communist legacies such as political elites, inherited from communism, lack of institutions taking care of accountability issue, lack of independent courts, widespread corruption and underdeveloped civil society. These together with the legacies from pre-communist past such as importance of historical myths, tribalism and familialism, all constituted the backdrop against which Albania’s democratization process started off. Historical legacy in the case of Albania plays a major role in shaping international and domestic policy outcomes: the country's aspirations towards the EU and its wish to become the Balkan region's uniting power influence the decision-making and "rules of the game" in the international and regional context. Through such concepts as stabilitocracy and coffeehouse democracy as well as by analyzing the critical juncture paradigm, the study will attempt to explain the model of the regime in place and to answer the question whether democracy remains an endgame for Albania.
Programme: Panel 7, Thursday, 6 September 2018, 17:30-19:00