Albania is a small European country tucked away in the Balkans but for forty odd years from the end of the Second World War its people suffered under one of the most brutal regimes in modern history.
Liberals cherish freedom and liberty, if you want to look for an example of the opposite authoritarianism with a capital A it could be found in Enver Hoxha’s Albania.
In his excellent book Blendi Fevziu paints a graphic picture of a nation in the grip of fear.
Hoxha’s rise to power was in many way accidental, he was handpicked to lead by a representative of the Yugoslav Communists sent to assist the Albanian partisans in the fight against the Axis powers.
Once secure Hoxha stayed at the top by using terror in all its forms.
Torture, execution and murder were used against anyone seen to be an ‘enemy of the people.’
Internal exile was another favoured method of persecution.
Periodic purges of the ruling Communist party were also carried out, so even those who thought they were on the inside were not safe.
Their families were also targetted for persecution.
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