Slavković Mirić, Božica (2019) Soviet and Yugoslav economic influence in Albania 1945-1948: destabilizing threat or factor for economic growth. In: The great powers of influence on the security of small states (International scientific conference). University „St. Kliment Ohridski“; Faculty of Security, Bitola; Skopje, pp. 43-53. ISBN 978-608-4828-48-8

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Abstract

The paper analyzes Soviet and Yugoslav economic influence in Albania in the period between 1945 and 1948. The first research question is what that influence means: a destabilizing threat or a factor for economic growth and development of Albania. In this context, the purpose of the research paper and the second question is to explore the development of the Albanian state between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union 1945-1948. Due to the friendship that was established during the Second World War, Yugoslavia was the first country to recognize the state of Albania on 28 April 1945. The Soviet Union did the same on 10 November 1945. Yugoslavia helped Albania in the ideological, political, economic, military and cultural spheres. Albanian leader Enver Hoxha was constantly sending signals to the USSR wishing for direct cooperation. That was the reason why Enver Hoxha visited Moscow in mid-1947. Since then, the pro-Soviet direction had been clearly perceived, although Enver Hoxha talked commendably about Yugoslavia. The highlight took place after the adoption of the Resolution of Inform - Bureau, when Albania prematurely terminated all agreements with Yugoslavia. This paper draws on researches from the Archive of Yugoslavia and the Diplomatic Archive of the Republic of Serbia in Belgrade, as well as on relevant literature and magazines. In the paper, among the other methods, we used the comparative method which compares the economies of Yugoslavia and Albania and indicates the similarities between these two countries and the method of analyzing archive economic and political documents. In the introduction, we discuss the economic underdevelopment of Albania after the Second World War, which was a reason why that state needed a strong neighbor and help. In the second part, we present the beginning of Albanian trade development relying on Yugoslavia and the USSR. The third part of the paper analyses the friendship between Yugoslavia and Albania, while in the fourth part we discuss the crisis in the relations between the two countries. The last part of the paper illustrates how Albania turned from Yugoslavia to the USSR. The conclusion at the end of the paper infers that in the immediate post-World War II period, Albania recovered economically. In this part of the paper we raise the question why Yugoslavia provided economic assistance to Albania and discuss different assumptions.

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