Internal Policy Aspects of the Communist Regime of Albania (1945-1990)

Abstract

This paper focuses on examining the fundamental characteristics of Albanian communist regime's internal policy. The essential and specific feature of this policy was deep interference in the social and cultural life of the country. The communist regime also extended the crackdown against institutions and religious ideology. This campaign took place in several phases. In the post-war years, when it felt insecure and faced with difficulties, the regime followed a relatively moderate policy towards religious institutions. While in the early 1950s, this campaign was harsh. Albanian Labor Party (ALP) and EnverHoxha further strengthened their power. The state machine has perfected and intensified the system of violence. Legislative elections took on a completely formal character. The candidates for deputies, who had no competitors and the rulers, were appointed by the senior ALP leadership and state party nomenclatures. Voting was not secret and no one dared to vote against the candidate submitted by the ALP, as it would be considered as an enemy and had to suffer all the consequences. Through the occasional blow of adversaries or disgruntled elements, the regime created the psychosis of fear and insecurity. Within the centralization of economic life a number of influential reforms such as collectivization, the construction of agricultural cooperatives and the rise of heavy industry were undertaken in the rural household. Keywords: Albania, communist regime, Enver Hoxha, Albanian Labor Party, internal policy.