Albania and the European Union : the tumultuous journey towards integration and accession / Mirela Bogdani and John Loughlin.

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-268) and index.

When will Albania join the EU? Will accession help to achieve prosperity, stability and prosperity? And, what factors are helping it towards this end and holding it back? A study of Albania and its relations with the EU, this book analyses the problems of the country as it moves towards membership of the Union.

European integration and the transformation of the democratic state: Theoretical and contextual issues -- Albania in 1990: at the crossroads between communism and democracy -- The transition period: political and socio-economic situation of Albania. How far is Albania from meeting the Copenhagen criteria? -- EU membership prospective for the countries of Western Balkans and Albania -- The political system: Albanian political parties and their attitude towards the EU -- Clientelism, corruption and organized crime: Serious barriers to EU membership -- Policy making in Albania -- The role of the elite and the domestic actors -- Local government and decentralization -- EU economic aid, assistance and programs: How have they contributed to domestic reforms and development? -- The impact of external factors on Albanian politics and policies.