Albanian-style laïcité
A Model for a Multi-religious European Home
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21207972 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Arolda Elbasani (0000-0003-0225-3549, Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies, Florence, Italy, corresponding author), Artan Puto (University of Tirana) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 53-69 |
| Publication date | 2017-01-02 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1944-8953 • E-ISSN: 1944-8961 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/19448953.2016.1201994 |
| OpenAlex | W2566103652 |
| Language | FR |
| Citations received | 8 |
| References cited | 9 |
As a Muslim-majority and multi-denominational polity, Albania has historically searched for suitable institutional solutions to reconcile Islam with a pluralist society, a unitary nation and often fragile European statehood. The post-Communist solutions for the management of this frail plurality are commonly framed within a local tradition of laïcité (Alb. shtet laik), which adapts the French model of separation between state and religion to particular Albanian goals and compromises. The analysis in this article explores the continuities and changes that mark the Albanian brand of laïcité, with a focus on specific solutions for managing the Islamic majority. The analysis suggests that home-grown interpretations of laïcité capitalize on historical precedents—or traditional solutions—that proved successful in accommodating Islam, religious plurality and European statehood during the founding of the independent Albanian state. Similarly to the past, post-Communist choices insist on safeguarding a local traditional version of Islam, which provides backing for the country’s consensual political goals of national unity and European anchorage
Art · Humanities · Political science · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions
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Imagining Islam in Kosovo - The social construction of the Kosovar Muslim subject among European political actors
State-religion relations in Southern and Southeastern Europe
Between Conflicting Systems
Localized Islam(s)
Albania’s “Religious Harmony” Diplomacy
Importing Religion into Post-Communist Albania
Governing Islam in Plural Societies
Reframing the Relations between State and Religion in Post–War Bosnia
Islam in the post-Communist Balkans
The Revival of Islam in the Balkans
Religion and society in present‐day Albania
State-organised Religion and Muslims’ Commitment to Democracy in Albania
Socialist Albania since 1944
Islam and Democracy at the Fringes of Europe
| Citations per year | 0.89 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2017 - 2025 (9) |
| Highly cited | No |