“Quadratic nexus” and the process of democratization and state-building in Albania and Kosovo: a comparison

Abstract

This paper examines the interplay between internal and external actors in the process of democratization and state-building in Albania and Kosovo. It does so by using David J. Smith's “quadratic nexus” that links Brubaker's “triadic nexus” – nationalizing states, national minorities and external national homelands – to the institutions of an ascendant and expansive “Euro-Atlantic space”. The main argument of this paper is twofold. First, it argues the nexus remains a useful framework in the study of state- and nation-building provided that it moves beyond the “civic vs. ethnic” dichotomy. Today, many states with a mixture of civic and multi-ethnic elements involve this relational nexus. Second, while comparing Albania and Kosovo, this paper argues that all the four elements of the nexus have a different impact on the process of state- and nation-building and their relationship is more conflictual in Kosovo than in Albania.

Keywords:

• quadratic nexus
• internal actors
• external actors
• Albania
• Greece
• Kosovo
• Serbia

Notes

Since 1921 Albania's Greek Population has been recognised as a minority living in recognised “minority zone”. After the Second World War, the Albanian communists took a decision to limit the “minority zone” in southern Albania to just 99 villages thus excluding other areas with Greek population (ICG “Albania” 10).

Regardless of this, a Greek has been serving as Minister of Health in the Albanian government created in 2009.

International usage of names of towns and places is applied in this paper.

Although Kosovo's Serbs were represented on both sides in the negotiations mediated by Ahtisaari (Weller 198), the key actors on the process were Pristina, Belgrade and the international community.

Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia refuse to recognize Kosovo's independence.