The Construction of the National Identity in Relation to the West

Hazbi Lika
Lecturer at Uamd Durres

Abstract

During the 20s and 30s, Albanians began creating their nation and they needed to build their historical identity. The history of Albania has an early relationship with the Western and Eastern Christianity, but since this state was for five centuries under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, most of the Albanian people were Islamized. The history of Albanians also has a long relationship with their political empires and their respective religions. During these years the ruling elite of the country sought to build the identity of its nation-state as a refusal of the Oriental culture in order to achieve the political and cultural reconciliation with the West. It is this viewpoint which serves as the grounds of building their national identity.


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