The strong kin and family connections of ethnic
Albanians in Western Balkans, coupled with the low
trust levels nurtured within such narrow traditional
structures in the colonial and communist past, are
key factors affecting economic performances of
Albanians today. Furthermore, the
levels of low trust that are maintained in the
Albanian society directly affect the low number of
associations outside the close circle of family, kin
and acquaintances. This has a direct effect on social
capital and therefore the robustness of the
respective economic performances. Also, the treatment
of ethnic Albanians by the institutions and ruling
structures in the Albania, Kosova and Macedonia
provides explanations for the social and
economic behavior of the ethnic Albanian in
contemporary times. Consequently, the main question
that this book seeks to answer is: "Why do the
different socio-political conditions that are imposed
on the ethnic Albanian population in the Balkans not
result in different levels of economic development
beyond state boundaries?"
Albanians in Western Balkans, coupled with the low
trust levels nurtured within such narrow traditional
structures in the colonial and communist past, are
key factors affecting economic performances of
Albanians today. Furthermore, the
levels of low trust that are maintained in the
Albanian society directly affect the low number of
associations outside the close circle of family, kin
and acquaintances. This has a direct effect on social
capital and therefore the robustness of the
respective economic performances. Also, the treatment
of ethnic Albanians by the institutions and ruling
structures in the Albania, Kosova and Macedonia
provides explanations for the social and
economic behavior of the ethnic Albanian in
contemporary times. Consequently, the main question
that this book seeks to answer is: "Why do the
different socio-political conditions that are imposed
on the ethnic Albanian population in the Balkans not
result in different levels of economic development
beyond state boundaries?"