The Albanians: A Modern History [Paperback]

Miranda Vickers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001 | ISBN-10: 1860645410 | ISBN-13: 978-1860645419 | Edition: Revised

This is the first full account of a country that, following decades of isolation, has undergone unprecedented changes to its political system: the collapse of communism, the progression to multi-party elections and the upheaval that followed the March 1997 uprising. Miranda Vickers traces the history of the Albanian people from the Ottoman period to the formation of the Albanian Communist Party. Newly revised for this paperback edition, The Albanians has now been updated to cover the crisis in Kosovo that led to the first "Western" war in Europe since 1945.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...expert guidance provided by this valuable and timely account..."-- Raymond Pearson, The South Slav Journal

"A vigorous, well-informed and readable study of modern Albanian history." --Raymond Hutchings, The Slavonic Review

About the Author

Miranda Vickers is Honorary Visiting Fellow, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris; Revised edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860645410
• ISBN-13: 978-1860645419
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.7 x 4.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,063,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > History > Europe > Albania

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough history on an ignored land, May 6, 2003

By 

Donna Di Giacomo (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Albanians: A Modern History (Paperback)

Albania's history is rich and Miranda Vickers has done an excellent job of documenting it.

I was pleasantly surprised that she discussed the Arberesh (the Albanese of Italy), even if it was briefly.

The book is an excellent resource tool and a great addition to any library.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If the uberpatriots hate it, it must be good, January 23, 2009

By 

R. L. Huff "An old reader" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Albanians: A Modern History (Paperback)

I haven't specifically read THIS title by this author, but I've seen other of her works. She strikes me as a serious and competent scholar with a wide and broad grasp of her subject. The fatuous remarks here by wild-eyed ethno-nationalists merely prove that she's on the right track, for when have such people ever allowed reality to intrude on their vanity.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Learn why the U. S. needs to be involved in the Balkans, June 26, 2002

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Albanians: A Modern History (Paperback)

Now that the United States has committed large numbers of ground troops to keep the peace in Bosnia and Kosova, it is important that her citizens learn about these areas. The history of the Balkans is typical of that where cultures have met and fought over the territory for centuries. It is the area where the three religions of Islam, Orthodox Christian and Catholicism share a common border with enclaves of each embedded in the other. Nearly all of the borders in that area of the world are artificial, political creations that do not reflect the ethnic and religious composition of the regions. This has led to centuries of hostility, which occasionally explodes into mass killing.
Nearly all of the nations in that area are less than a century old, and in the case of Albania, the idea of the nation is very recent. With substantial differences in customs separating the northern and southern regions, loyalty to the nation over their region among the inhabitants is an idea that postdates the creation of the country. Up until the end of the second world war, Albania was also in danger of being partitioned between the neighboring states.
All of this in combination generates a complex political and social problem that has yet to be resolved. Vickers does an excellent job in describing the events that led to the current battles in Kosova, Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia. The recounting of the centuries of conflict is well done and helps explain why U. S. military forces are needed there. The history of the region is that of more powerful nations achieving and maintaining control by manipulating the hostilities that exist between the various groups. For centuries, this was how the Ottoman empire ruled the region and world war two in the Balkans was largely a local conflict between the ethnic groups where the Germans and Italians favored one group over another.
In reading this history of the region, one finds it difficult to see a way in which the U.S. and NATO presence can easily be removed. Down through the years, there have been years of uneasy peace between the various groups and the current situation could just be another such time. Nevertheless, it is important for the U. S. to be involved and this book is a good way to learn why the forces should be involved and will no doubt be there for some time.