Albania's "religious harmony" diplomacy

Abstract

There is a consensus across the Albanian political spectrum that religious harmony is an area in which a new image of Albania should be promoted in a post-2001 world. As a result, the authorities have promoted religious harmony as a symbol of Albania. This article attempts to examine the ways through which Albania has sought to present itself internationally through the use of religious moderation. It argues that while Albania’s promotion of religious harmony is authentic to the country, the Albanian state and society have used it to improve internal stability and to gain legitimacy in international relations, particularly in relation to Balkan affairs. However, tensions remain between Albania’s rhetoric and performance on the one hand, and its domestic development paths on the other.