The Balkanisation of Politics: Crime and Corruption in Albania

In the last few years, Albania and other South Eastern and Mediterranean countries have shown increased growth in corruption affecting every level of political power. Organized crime is becoming more sophisticated as it consolidates links between Albanian clans and the wider criminal world. According to the EU, the FBI and other police organization reports, while the situation concerning organized crime and corruption is grave throughout the Balkans, it is especially so in Albania, even as its authorities procede with talks for future membership in the EU. Efforts to combat this problem have thus far been insufficient. Authorities appear to not admit the full extent of criminal links among individuals in state offices, the police and politics. In many areas traffickers work with the complicity of police and customs officials and enjoy the protection of high-ranking politicians. Corruption is rife and seriously undermines efforts to democratize the society. Albania is caught in a vicious cycle: every institution is affected by organized crime which hampers democracy and economic development; any attempts to change the situation, like the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe seem to be ineffective. This paper aims to analyze the problem of corruption and illegality in the current period in Albania and to measure its infiltration, via local authorities, into every level of political, economic and social life.