EVEN THE GODS DIE ... THE STATE FUNERAL AND NATIONAL MOURNING FOR THE ALBANIAN COMMUNIST DICTATOR ENVER HOXHA

Abstract

This paper focuses on the death, state funeral, and national mourning for the Albanian communist dictator Enver Hoxha (1908–1985). This exploration of the emotional experiences and cultural strategies of coping with the death of a deathless leader aims to shed light on the performative roles of the ruling party, the workers, and the class enemies, as well as on the methods of ruling in a dictatorial system.