The country in Europe that has been “closed” for 40 years

If you've ever heard of one Communist state Which has closed its borders for 40 years, implemented widespread militarization and closed the doors to foreign multinational companies, your mind will likely turn to its centralized system. north korea.

However, literally one country Next to us A similar case was presented, until the mid-1980s, and it is no different Albania under Hoxha.

the Enver Hoxhathe dominant leader of Albania as an independent state, ruled with an “iron fist” for about 40 years as he subjected the country to Soviet “explicit”.

Departure from Yugoslavia

In the mid-1940s, as the country threw off the Ottoman yoke and its monarchy, under King Zog I, was breathing its last, it was clear that Albania would not join the Yugoslav giant, due to its expansionist views. For “Greater Albania” which will include Kosovo.

The Anti-Fascist Committee of Albania, founded by Hoxha, became the country's de facto and legitimate democratic government in October 1944. From 1945 onwards, it adopted a Stalinist-inspired, unstable governmental strategy. A combination of nationalization and expulsion of feudal lords and capitalists, but also absolute arbitration.

Until Hoxha's reforms, more than 50% of Albania's agricultural capital was in the hands of large landowners, which changed through Redistribution of wealth Which he had to do, of course, without any compensation.

Khoja rule

But at the same time, he embraced Hoxha the most Extreme manifestations of Stalinismeliminate through Prisons, executions and exile His political opponents, while he followed a personal model of government, concentrating much of the power in his hands.

It strongly excluded foreign influence and propaganda within the country, which was characterized by a ban on multinational corporations with Western interests.

This communist Electroconvulsive therapy But it also had positive social impacts. Within just 4 decades, the government began urging oppressed women, largely excluded from economic life, to break free from injustice. Come into unskilled workMeasures have also been taken to improve their educational level.

This transformation remains a historical model, since 1938, when women were only a percentage active 4% In the fields of production, in 1970 he came to participate 38% of women In the national economy.

A similar boom has been seen Industrial production, material self-sufficiency, education and health system. In a world first, Albania also became the first country in the world to have a complete electrification system.

Today Albania has abandoned its communist past and, to a large extent, its nationalist pretensions. The country's capitalist laissez-faire policy has been permanently entrenched in an economic landscape familiar to the post-Yugoslav Balkans.