Migration in Albania
The middle ages to the Nineteenth Century
The initial wave of the Albanian mass migration was due to the annexation of Albania by Ottoman after the demise of Skanderbeg during the year 1448. The country thereby became a significant part of the Ottoman Empire (Lazaridis & Koumandraki, 2017). The annexation led to the increased migration of Albanians to Italy. Around one-quarter of Albania’s total populace fled from their places of residence due to the Ottoman annexation amid the year 1448 to the initial years of the sixteenth century. The five centuries under the Ottoman regime were typified by an increase in internal and international migration; these migrations assumed involuntary and voluntary forms in search for better conditions of living and independence from the regime of the Ottomans. Poverty triggered internal migration among the Albanians due to the prevailing economic difficulties in pursuing international migration.
Nineteenth Century to 1945
Triggered by the increased rate of urbanization and industrialization in various European nations and North America, the Albanian labor emigration peaked during the conclusion of the nineteenth century and the commencement of the twentieth century. During this period, a significant number of Albanians emigrated due to various economic and political reasons. Before the year 1945, internal and international migrations were determined by the historical-political and socioeconomic conditions in Albania (Barjarba, 2014). Albania’s geographical position, its dynamic landscape, its mountainous regions in the north and the south, its extended coastline towards the west, and its central lowlands played a crucial role in prompting migration towards the coastal regions and the lowlands.
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Migration during the Communist Regime
After the Second World War, the country experienced the world’s largest totalitarian communist regime associated with a significant isolation level, repression, and autocracy. Economic advancements, particularly in the industrial sector during the communist era impacted population redistribution, following the increased labor demand in the industrial sector. Forty-one urban centers were developed during the communist regime; this marked a new axis of economic growth (Gemi, 2017). Following the rapid growth in urbanization during the initial decade under the communist regime, migration from rural to urban regions was directed and managed by the state; this subsequently led to the steady advancements in urbanization (Gogonas & Michail, 2015). Amid the 1950s and the 1960s, the rates of internal migration were comparatively high, and this marked the period of increasingly urban population growth during the communist period. However, in spite of the established policies, internal migration increased with significant growth in urban population.
Post-Communist Migration
First Flow
Following the decline of dictatorship and the initial democratic elections in March 1991, approximately 24,000 Albanians landed on the shores of Italy within a short period; this initiated a national crisis for both Albania and Italy (Gurpinar, 2015). Amid the year 1992 and 1996, the irregular flow of migrants remained constant despite the fact that political stabilization and economic progress typified the period.
Second Flow
During this time, the country's politicians optimistically presumed that the first migration flow would significantly decline following the introduction of democratic reforms. However, the country underwent severe civil unrest and socio-economic crisis in the year 1997; this triggered the subsequent flow of migrants. The second migration flow fostered serious drawbacks in the implementation of the ongoing reforms, and it triggered an increased flow of migrants to the European Union nations. Amid December 1996 and April 1997, approximately 40,000 emigrants landed in Greece and 30,000 in Italy (King, Uruci & Vullnetari, 2011).
Third Flow
The third migration flow took place amid the years 1998 and 1999 during the Kosovo crisis; this led to approximately 100,000 Albanians leaving their country (King, & Vullnetari, 2009). The Kosovo crisis facilitated the emigration of the Albanians to countries such as Germany and Belgium. The Albanians’ settlement in the USA began during the late nineteenth century and the twentieth century from Turkey, Greece, Southern Albania, Southern Italy and Kosovo, Montenegro, Republic of Macedonia, Albania, and refugees of war (Fischer, 2005). The largest populace of Albanian-Americans is located in Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and New York. In Southern California, the Albanian-American populace is located in Los Angeles. The community makes up approximately 0.04 percent of the United States population.
Discussion
Albania has a prolonged history of migration which stretches through various centuries. The first Albanian emigrants to Italy during the year 1448 were soldiers delivered to the King of Naples by the military commander of the National Hero of Albania and the Albanian Alliance of Nobles, Skenderbeg (Nikas, & Aspasios, 2011). Approximately a quarter of the aggregate Albanian populace fled from their places of residence as a result of the invasions by the Ottoman amid the year 1468 (following the demise of Skanderbeg) and the initial years of the sixteenth century. A significant number of the Arberesh community migrated to Italy and established various towns in the Southern regions; this is where a significant number of the ethnic Albanian communities are present to date. A significant number of Albanians emigrated due to various economic and political reasons during the nineteenth and twentieth century; their destination during this particular period of migration was towards countries such as Australia, Argentina, United States, Egypt, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Serbia. For instance, during the mid-1930s, the primary destination of the Albanians was Greece whereby people of the Albanian descent added to approximately 400,000 (Stampini, Carlotto, & Davis, 2008).
During the communist era amid the year 1944 and 1990, emigration was virtually halted. Migration was officially interdicted and associated with severe punishments: During this era, Albania established itself as a significantly isolated and closed communist nation. The most recent wave of migration commenced in 1990 and is currently underway. The initial migratory spark was during the collapse of the communist regime. The unraveling of the centrally planned economy and the end of external and internal migration controls triggered a demographic shift unprecedented pace; people emigrated to other countries and various cities (Nepal, &Henning, 2013). Initially, the economic downturn, social unrest, and political instability associated with the changes in government prompted the increased surge of Albanian migration over time with approximately 300,000 people emigrating from Albania to Italy and Greece amid the year 1991 and 1992 (Gemi, 2017). Economic and political stabilization in Albania after the year 1992 led to a significant decrease in migratory flows. The rate of inflation declined to less than ten percent in the year 1995 compared to the year 1992 (226 percent). The rate of unemployment decreased from approximately twenty-eight percent to twelve percent in the year 1993 and 1996 respectively. The annual growth rates of the country’s real GDP rebounded from -7.2% to around nine percent amid the years 1993 and 1996 respectively.
The collapse of a chain of various national pyramid saving programs during late 1996 also triggered a surge in global emigration. The pyramid schemes sourced their origin from remittances and the poor formal credit system and a growing informal market unstructured by the government. The collapse commenced on 19th November 1996, and it prevailed for a particular period thereby, leading to the collapse of the government and prompting riots (Gurpinar, 2015). The nation fell into anarchy as the police and the army lost control: foreign nationals were evacuated and armories, looted. Many Albanians were forced to leave the country. For instance, individuals who inhabited the Vlore region were forced to leave the country due to the riots which erupted in the region; these riots spread through the nation until March 1997. Most of the emigrants were repatriated. A transnational force led by Italy aided in the restoration of order in Albania and the subsequent decline in the rate of migration.
Conclusion
The initial wave of the Albanian mass migration before the nineteenth century was due to the annexation of Albania by Ottoman after the demise of Skenderbeg during the year 1448. Albanians’ international migration may be determined by the primary pull and push factors which typify the phenomenon. The primary push factors associated with their migration include poverty, unemployment, poor standards of living, and the lack of political and personal safety. Pull factors that enhanced their migration include the hope for a good future and the prospects in the host nations. Remittances also played a significant role in enhancing the International migration of Albanians. The Albanians’ settlement in the USA began during the late nineteenth century and the twentieth century from Turkey, Greece, Southern Albania, Southern Italy and Kosovo, Montenegro, Republic of Macedonia, Albania, and refugees of war.
References
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