Albanian question in the Balkans and the security of Macedonia

Abstract

The arguments of the thesis develop along three lines. First, we consider that ethnic politics does not pose any threat to Macedonia’s stability and territorial integrity. It is so because the Albanians in Macedonia do not enjoy the support of Albania or Kosova. Second, the politics of the Albanians in Macedonia is heavily dependent on internal dynamics within the state. Hence, the wrong western perceptions that Kosova events and its independence could trigger a chain of events leading to Macedonia’s break up. The Albanians in Macedonia strive for equality with the Macedonians. Finally, the foreign policy of the Albanian state has never been a destabilising factor for the region since its creation in 1912. Albania has managed to preserve its security by not dealing with the Albanian question. Even after the end of the Cold War, its policy was designed to preserve the status quo and avoid the war in the Balkans