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Albania is located in the Balkan region neighboring Montenegro, Kosovo/Serbia, Macedonia, and Greece. It is one of the top attractions spots of Europe for its many unique traits. These unique traits are what helped district itself from other nations to define its own national identity. Albania has some outstanding that will be analyzed through its rich history in this briefing.
There is no set definition of national identity. The meaning of this topic is still at large and remains unexplored. However, through many research over the years, there have been various definitions made. Researchers have come up with many factors that could help define and influence the meaning of national identity. One factor that has the most significant influence to define national identity is a country’s history. A country’s history is more valuable to its national identity if the country kept its origin or same territory, language, and culture throughout their thousands of years of their history (Berger, 2009, pg.492). No revolutions, new dynasties, or evolutionary reforms could disrupt or change a country’s original territory, language, and culture (Berger, 2009, pg.493). If it did, then that country’s national identity had changed and became unclear. Having an unclear national identity can be bad because then that country cannot form differences between other nations to be unique and separated. Having a distinct nation can help identify a country from others and help define a country’s national identity (Triandafyllidou, 1998, pg.593). This enables a nation to recognize the difference between a nation's citizen and a foreigner (Triandafyllidou, 1998, pg.593). Other factors that contribute to the definitions of national identity and can help contrast a country to others are a country’s common legal rights, duties for all citizens, and a common joint economy with territory mobility (Smith, 1991, pg.14). Lastly, many other factors that could help define a nation's identity is ethnicities, religion, location, and many more.
All of Albania’s key aspects that define its national identity is from its preserved long-lasting history of the nation. The country’s history shows how valuable some of its characteristics that define its own national identity is and how it was maintained throughout its long years of history. “Albania is considered as one of the regions with the most ancient population traces in the Balkans and Europe” (“History,” 2019). One of the many populations that settled in this land that created the foundations of Albania’s origin language and culture were from the Indo-European population in III Millennium BC (“History,” 2019). This ancient population became ancestors of the now called “Illyrians” between the II millennium and I century BC (“History,” 2019). As the Roman empire grew over the years of war, the Illyrians fell under the Byzantine Empire in 30 BC at the end of the Illyrian-Roman War (“History,” 2019). Although Albania was occupied by a new and different population, the Illyrians continued their original language and culture traditions from the Indo-European people for centuries along the way under the Byzantine empire rule (“History,” 2019). The Byzantine empire’s official language was greek and/or latin that was taught throughout the empires educational systems along with Greek history, literature, and culture (“Byzantine Empire,” 2010). The Albanians original language and culture traditions formed a strong national identity characteristics for the nation as it was preserved under centuries of rule and as a minority characteristics to its ruling population.Therefore, Albania’s language and culture traditions are valuable in defining Albania’s national identity. Berger stated in his article on page 492 that “the longer the continuity that could be constructed in the name of the nation, the more ancient and more valuable - that is, the higher standing - the nation was.” In this case, Albania's language and culture traditions were established and continued through all its past obstacles to become a valuable characteristic in defining Albania's national identity that is still used today.
A third key aspect to Albania's national identity is their national symbol, the black double-headed eagle. This symbol is represented in its country’s current flag. It became a national symbol in 1443 when Albania’s national hero, Skanderbeg, raised his flag in victory after leading the independence revolt against the Ottoman empire which occupied the nation after the fall of the Byzantine empire (“Flag of Albania,” 2013). The double-headed eagle symbol that Skanderbeg rose on his victory flag was originated from the Byzantine Empire (“Flag of Albania,” 2013). Others may question this as a national identity characteristic of Albania, but I do not. Others may question this idea because this symbol was not from its original origins of the Indo-European people (Illyrians). However, I consider this to be one of Albania’s national identities because the Albanians could have wore it proud as a preserved symbol of the Illyrians because the first three Byzantine Emperors (Anastasius I, Justin, and Justinian I) were of Illyrians descendants (“History,” 2019). Albanian citizens probably felt a connection between their origins of the Illyrians and the early Byzantine empire to now to define their national identity.
Albania, on the other hand, has a couple of significant others. Both significant others of Albania are internal significant others. One internal significant other that Albania has is Macedonia. Albania is an ethnic minority that also has an immigrant community in Macedonia. This is because Albanians are the largest and most important minority ethnic group in the Republic of Macedonia (“Macedonia,” 2019). Their population takes up one-fourth or 25.2% of Macedonia's population (“Macedonia,” 2019). As the Albanian population grows in Macedonia, so does their language. The Albanian language became the second official language in Macedonia (“Macedonia To Approve,” 2018). The Albanians are also included in 16 of Macedonia's 84 municipalities (“Macedonia,” 2019). Another internal significant other of Albania is in Kosovo/Serbia. Albania is an internal majority in Kosovo/ Serbia. There are 1.6 million Albanians living in Kosovo, taking up nearly 93% of the nation's population (“Kosovo,” 2019). Albanian is also an official language along with Serbian (“Kosovo,” 2019). The Albanians who immigrated to this territory also brought their religion, culture, and traditions. Kosovo now has a common majority religion, culture, and tradition as it is in Albania (“Kosovo,” 2019). As a result, the Albanians are slowly exposing their unique nation traits to other nations to continue their rich history and legacy.


Word count: 1067 (excluding works cited)




Works Cited
Allcock, J. B., Lampe, J. R., & Young, A. (2018, August 09). Kosovo. Encyclopædia Britannica,
Inc.Retrieved January 27, 2019, from
Berger, S. (2009). On the Role of Myths and History in the Construction of National Identity in
Modern Europe. European History Quarterly, 39(3), 490–502.
Danforth, L. (2019, January 25). Macedonia. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Retrieved January 27,
Editors, H. (2010, August 24). Byzantine Empire. A&E Television Networks. Retrieved January 27,
Shabani, I. (2018, June 07). Macedonia To Approve Albanian As Official Language, Expected To
Be Signed Into Law. Retrieved January 27, 2019, from
Smith, W. (2013, November 22). Flag of Albania. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved January
Triandafyllidou, A. (1998). National identity and the `other.’. Ethnic & Racial Studies, 21(4),
(2019). History: War, Peace, and Tolerance. Official Website of Albanian National Tourism
Agency. http://albania.al/article/1/history/

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