http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/handle/1/1712 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:23:08 GMT 2026-04-16T04:23:08Z http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/handle/1/2340 JUSTICE REFORM IN ALBANIA AND ITS IMPACT ON DEMOCRACY (2016-2023) Haxhiu, Dea The instruments of the judicial system are the Constitution and national, international, and European law that the country has adopted and ratified. Law quality and democratic legislation are on one side. The rule of law is the instrument of this quality law and democratic legislation to determine above all and for everything. All should be equal before the law. No one can escape the responsibility to respect the law. The study analysis is divided into two spheres. The theoretical analysis focuses on justice reform, beginning with the constitutional reform in 2016, the vetting process, and the new judicial institutions that have contributed to the consolidation of the rule of law, balance of power, accountability, and transparency as foundations of liberal democracy. Implementation analysis, which analyses the effectiveness of the justice reform through 2016-2023. The challenges have prolonged the justice reform leading to debatable outcomes. The methodology is conducted through interviews, analysis of formal documents, academic contribution, and data highlighting the uncertainty of the contribution of justice reform in the Albanian judiciary. Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/handle/1/2340 2024-09-23T00:00:00Z http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/handle/1/2339 PERCEIVED ELECTORAL FRAUD AND POLITICAL POLARISATION IN POST-COMMUNIST ALBANIA Nako, Alban; Nako, Alban This dissertation examines the intricate relationship between electoral fraud and partisan polarisation in post-communist Albania, a nation where democratic institutions are still grappling with the legacies of authoritarian rule. Over the past three decades, Albania’s electoral system has evolved amid persistent challenges, with electoral fraud emerging as a critical barrier to democratic consolidation and public trust. This study seeks to unravel the complex dynamics that link electoral fraud to the deepening political divisions within the country. Employing a robust mixed-methods approach, this research integrates historical institutional analysis with a comprehensive survey of Albanian voters. This unique methodology allows for a deep exploration of how perceptions and personal experiences of electoral fraud fuel partisan polarisation. The study meticulously traces the evolution of electoral fraud from Albania’s first multi-party elections in 1991 to the recent 2021 elections, shedding light on how fraudulent practices have distorted electoral outcomes, entrenched political loyalties, and exacerbated societal divisions. The dissertation’s findings reveal that electoral fraud in Albania is not merely a procedural flaw but a deeply ingrained political strategy that reinforces partisan identities and undermines democratic engagement. This study significantly contributes to the broader discourse on post-communist democratisation by highlighting the crucial link between electoral integrity and political polarisation. Importantly, it offers both theoretical insights and practical recommendations for strengthening electoral processes in transitional democracies, thereby providing a roadmap for policymakers and practitioners. In this comprehensive examination, the dissertation underscores the pressing need to address electoral fraud in Albania. The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts political stability and democratic resilience. Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/handle/1/2339 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/handle/1/2335 THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES AND INTERFAITH HARMONY IN PROMOTING SOCIAL PEACE: A CASE STUDY OF ALBANIA Skura, Hysni This thesis aims to contribute to the study of religion, religious communities, religious leadership, and interfaith harmony in Albania, as key factors in building a moderate and inclusive society by fostering and promoting religious, humanitarian, and social peace values as the main foundation for societal development. It assesses Albanian society's perception of the role and correlation between religion, dialogue, interfaith harmony, and the process of building social peace in the Albanian reality. Additionally, the study objectively evaluates the extent to which religious communities in Albania have contributed to the preservation and construction to peace. Within the framework of achieving the main objectives of this work, several research questions and a primary hypothesis have been developed. This hypothesis and research questions enable readers to better understand how religion, religious communities, and interfaith harmony in Albania influence the promotion and development of social peace and peace-building. The thesis employs a mixed methodology, including qualitative and quantitative methods. This mixed approach provides a broader perspective on the subject, combining qualitative data from interviews, observations, and surveys with quantitative data from reviewed literature. It also utilizes the Likert scale correlation coefficient, statistical distribution of percentages, and survey research design. Additionally, the ANOVA statistical data analysis platform is used to determine the significance of the interaction between variables. In the process of realizing this thesis, a comprehensive review and evaluation of a wide range of literature have been conducted, assessing various aspects such as religion, politics, interfaith dialogue, etc., and their correlation, analyzing the works of pioneer authors such as Galtung, Lederach, Abu Nimer, Elbasani, etc. The findings of this thesis suggest that while religion may significantly influence internal and international events, it is essential to approach religious knowledge with an understanding of the context in which it exists. Understanding the role of religion in a globalized world can provide insight into how it impacts local policies and interinstitutional relationships within the country. Among other things, this thesis demonstrates that raising awareness of interfaith dialogue among people should be approached in various ways, with the help of all relevant actors, not just educational institutions. This study suggests that educational leaders, policymakers, religious communities, and society as a whole should continuously invest in interfaith harmony and dialogue as they are key elements in societal development and the promotion of social peace. Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/handle/1/2335 2024-05-14T00:00:00Z http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/handle/1/2332 FREEDOM AND DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE: PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF ALBANIAN MATURA STUDENTS AT SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT Çekrezi, Albana The classification of Albania as a flawed democracy with fragile civil liberties, political rights, and the insufficiency of internal democratization mechanisms revealed the need for an internal and bottom-up process of democratization. Education, considered an internal factor, affects the quality of citizenry, political culture and values in a sustainable manner. Albania inherits a communist past when indoctrination and centralization in education were common. In such a context, this study aims to explore Albanian Matura students’ perceptions and experiences of freedom and distributive justice as two key values of democracy, in the school environment. A questionnaire, used as an instrument, was completed by a sample of 1846 Matura students of the 2020-2021 academic year. Quantitative methods and descriptive and inferential analysis were used to answer the research questions and to test the hypothesis. The findings in this study, based on respondents’ self-reporting answers, revealed that experiences and perceptions of freedom differ based on type of school, gender, geographic area (location) and directorate. In addition, all types of freedom under study demonstrated a positive correlation between experience and perception. Regression analysis revealed evidence linking experiences of freedom with perceptions of freedom, the highest being that of freedom of action, in which 8.5 % of variation in perception is explained with experience (B=.297), followed by freedom of choice 6.2 % (B=.232), and freedom of expression 3.5 % (B=.125). Perceptions and experiences of principles of distributive justice differed based on type of school, iii gender, geographical area and directorate. In addition, equality and need are significantly related with a positive correlation between experiences and perceptions. Experiences of equity are negatively correlated with perceptions of equity. Regression analysis demonstrated evidence linking experience with perception; for equality 4.3% of variation in perception is explained by experience (B=.150), for need 4.6 % (B=.120), and inversely for equity it is explained by 1% (B=-.089). The findings expose school sociodemographic characteristics and school experience related to freedom and distributive justice. A proper understanding of freedom and distributive justice from the new generation is significant for the civic (political) culture with education used as an internal democratization factor. Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.epoka.edu.al/handle/1/2332 2023-07-17T00:00:00Z