Between Transition and Consolidation:  The EU’S Impact in Shaping Albania’s Democracy

Mirela Bogdani; John Loughlin; Eva Hyskaj Tafili

doi:10.56345/ijrdv13n229

Authors

Mirela Bogdani Assoc. Prof., Department of Politics & IR, University of New York Tirana, Tirana, Albania
John Loughlin Prof. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Eva Hyskaj Tafili Prof., Department of History, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56345/ijrdv13n229

Keywords:

Albania, post-communist transition, democratic consolidation, democratization, Europeanization, EU accession

Abstract

This paper examines Albania’s post-communist transition, focusing on the role of the European Union accession perspective in promoting democratization and democratic consolidation. Structured into five sections, the study first presents the research methodology, outlining the main research question, the variables, the research method, and the study’s contribution to the existing literature. The subsequent sections provide a conceptual overview of democratisation and the principal theories of transition, highlighting the diverse trajectories from authoritarianism to hybrid or consolidated democratic regimes. The authors introduce a novel analytical model - the multi-dimensional comprehensive approach for the 4th wave of democratisation (referring to the former communist countries of Eastern Europe) - which incorporates contextual conditions, domestic actors, and external influences, to provide a holistic understanding of the democratisation process within this regional context. The study further explores the concept of democratic consolidation through three sets of indicators: institutional performance, the development of a democratic political culture, and progress toward EU accession. Applying this framework to Albania, the paper analyses the complexity and challenges of the country’s transition process. It further examines Albania’s tumultuous journey towards the EU, conceptualising democratisation and Europeanisation as complementary processes. While the EU accession perspective has served as a significant driver of democratisation, the analysis finds that several key democratic indicators remain unfulfilled, particularly in the areas of rule of law, electoral integrity, public administration, corruption and organised crime. The paper concludes that Albania has not yet completed its transition and remains far from being a consolidated democracy.

Received: 20 February 2026 │ Accepted: 10 June 2026 │ Published: 23 July 2026