Sustainability of “Vetëvendosje” Movement in the Political Sphere

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze how “Vetëvendosja” movement has preserved its legitimacy since its creation and its actions, firstly as a movement and now as a political representative within the political system. Based on the analytical model of Constructivist Theory, Social Movement Framing Theory, data gathering and elaboration from interviews done to Albin Kurti as the first leader of this movement, The Ahtisaari’s plan, the political program and different public discourses, this paper will create a clearer research picture on this topic. This movement, born to contradict categorically and systematically the Ahtisaari’s Plan that stressed out the judicial, military and political sovereignty under the international protectorate, developed more and gain strength thanks to the thesis of national union. It organized a number of protests that caused the murder of a number of supporters and the imprisonment of the leader from the international forces. These new conditions led to the creation and put into action a number of strategies and techniques that brought the institutionalization of the movement within the political system as a political and parliamentary representative. In contrast with other movements who lost their legitimacy in the moment they entered the political system, this paper analyses how the “Vetëvendosja” movement managed to preserve its legitimacy, in both positions, in and out the political system.