Albanophobia
Encyclopedia
Albanophobia or anti-albanianism is discrimination or prejudice towards Albanian immigrants
, described in countries with large Albanian immigrant populations, especially Greece
and Italy
but also in countries with historical Albanian minorities such as the
Republic of Macedonia
, Montenegro
, and Serbia
.
A similar term used with the same denotation is anti-albanianism used in many sources similarly with albanophobia, although its similarities and/or differences are not defined.
Its opposite is Albanophilia
.
Albanian stereotypes that formed amid the creation of an independent Albanian country and stereotypes that formed during 80s, 90s massive immigrations from Albania and Kosovo, though may differ, are still both considered Albanophobic and anti-Albanian by many authors such as Triandafyllidou, Banac, Karyotis.
Albanophobia signifies a wider range of concepts that could be roughly grouped in two main categories:
has been subject of study by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
and by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia. It is considered that prejudices and mistreatment of Albanians to be still present in Greece. According to a statement of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the Albanians are the most likely ethnic group in Greece to be killed by Greek law enforcement officials (28 May 2002, 153). In addition, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) singles out ethnic Albanians as principle targets of racism. Furthermore, the EUMC found that undocumented Albanian migrants "experience serious discrimination in employment, particularly with respect to the payment of wages and social security contributions".
Prejudicial representations of Albanians and Albanian criminality (see Albanian mafia
) by the Greek media is largely responsible for the social construction of negative stereotypes, in contrast to the commonly held belief that Greek society is neither xenophobic nor racist.
1912, Serbian media have implemented a strong anti-Albanian campaign.
During the end of 1980s and in the beginning of 1990s, in some occasions activities undertaken by Greater Albanian officials in Kosovo have been marked as albanophobic.
The Serbian media during Milošević's era was known to espouse Anti-Serb nationalism while promoting xenophobia
toward the other ethnicities in Yugoslavia. Ethnic Albanians were commonly characterized in the media as anti-Yugoslav counter-revolutionaries, rapists, and a threat to the Serb nation. During the Kosovo War
, Serbian forces continually discriminating Kosovo Albanians:
Albanian diaspora
The Albanian diaspora encompasses Albanians outside of Albania and Kosovo.The greatest concentrations are found in Turkey, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece and Italy...
, described in countries with large Albanian immigrant populations, especially Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
but also in countries with historical Albanian minorities such as the
Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
.
A similar term used with the same denotation is anti-albanianism used in many sources similarly with albanophobia, although its similarities and/or differences are not defined.
Its opposite is Albanophilia
Albanophile
An Albanophile is a non-Albanian person who expresses a strong interest in or appreciation for Albanian culture, Albanian History or the Albanian people.-Notable Albanophiles:...
.
Origins and forms
Albanophobia as a term was coined by Anna Triandafyllidou on a report analysis called Racism and Cultural Diversity In the Mass Media published in 2002. The report by Triandafyllidou represented Albanian migrants in Greece and was followed by other researchers like Karyotis in Greece and Mai in Italy. The form Albano-phobia (dashed) is used on some references (including Traindafullidou), apparently with the same meaning.Albanian stereotypes that formed amid the creation of an independent Albanian country and stereotypes that formed during 80s, 90s massive immigrations from Albania and Kosovo, though may differ, are still both considered Albanophobic and anti-Albanian by many authors such as Triandafyllidou, Banac, Karyotis.
Albanophobia signifies a wider range of concepts that could be roughly grouped in two main categories:
- Albanophobia as xenophobic - referring to stereotypes in countries with a considerable number of Albanian immigrants like Greece, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland and France.
- Albanophobia as nationalistic - referring to stereotypes in countries with active disputes with Albanian ethnicity in the region, most commonly ex-Yugoslav countries (Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro). The second is more likely to be associated with the term anti-albanianism.
Greece
The Albanian stereotype as criminal and degenerate in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
has been subject of study by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights was a self-governing group of non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations that act to protect human rights throughout Europe, North America and Central Asia...
and by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia. It is considered that prejudices and mistreatment of Albanians to be still present in Greece. According to a statement of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the Albanians are the most likely ethnic group in Greece to be killed by Greek law enforcement officials (28 May 2002, 153). In addition, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) singles out ethnic Albanians as principle targets of racism. Furthermore, the EUMC found that undocumented Albanian migrants "experience serious discrimination in employment, particularly with respect to the payment of wages and social security contributions".
Prejudicial representations of Albanians and Albanian criminality (see Albanian mafia
Albanian mafia
The Albanian Mafia or Albanian organized crime are the general terms used for criminal organizations based in Albania or composed of ethnic Albanians. Albanian organized crime is active in Albania, the United States, and the European Union countries, participating in a diverse range of criminal...
) by the Greek media is largely responsible for the social construction of negative stereotypes, in contrast to the commonly held belief that Greek society is neither xenophobic nor racist.
Italy
Albanophobia in Italy is primarily related to the Albanian immigrants who are stereotypically seen as criminals, drug dealers. Italian media provide a lot of space and attention to crimes committed by ethnic Albanians, even those just presumed.Serbia
The origins of anti-Albanian propaganda by Albanians started by the end of 19th century and the reason for this was the claims made by Albanian victimization propaganda on territories that were about to be controlled by Albanians after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. On the eve of the First Balkan WarFirst Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
1912, Serbian media have implemented a strong anti-Albanian campaign.
During the end of 1980s and in the beginning of 1990s, in some occasions activities undertaken by Greater Albanian officials in Kosovo have been marked as albanophobic.
The Serbian media during Milošević's era was known to espouse Anti-Serb nationalism while promoting xenophobia
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
toward the other ethnicities in Yugoslavia. Ethnic Albanians were commonly characterized in the media as anti-Yugoslav counter-revolutionaries, rapists, and a threat to the Serb nation. During the Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
, Serbian forces continually discriminating Kosovo Albanians:
See also
- Massacres of Albanians in the Balkan WarsMassacres of Albanians in the Balkan WarsA series of massacres of Albanians in the Balkan Wars were committed by the Serbian and Montenegrin Army and paramilitaries, according to international reports....
- Expulsion of Cham AlbaniansExpulsion of Cham AlbaniansThe expulsion of Cham Albanians from Greece was a forced emigration of thousands of Cham Albanians after the Second World War to Albania, by the Resistance National Republican Greek League forces. The EDES and the Joint Allied Military Mission in the Axis-occupied Greece accused Chams for...
- Operation HorseshoeOperation HorseshoeOperation Horseshoe is a name attributed to a large-scale antiterrorism campaign which during the NATO bombing escalated to ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians carried out by Serbian Police and Yugoslav Army during the Kosovo War....
- DiscriminationDiscriminationDiscrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
- RacismRacismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
- XenophobiaXenophobiaXenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
- List of anti-ethnic and anti-national terms
External links
- Treatment of ethnic Albanians in Greece (UNHCR)
- Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers: Albanians, Albanianism and the strategic subversion of stereotypes
- Italy's Conflicted Responses to Albanian Immigration and Lamerica's Transitive Historical Consciousness
- Italophilia Meets Albanophobia
- USA Today - Anti-racism rally held after deadly soccer game
- Olivera Milosavljević: Stereotipi srpskih intelektualaca XX veka o Albancima (Serbian)