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The revival of religion in world and European politics -- Turkey and the European Union -- The compatibility of Islam with democracy -- What place do religion and culture have in the debate on Turkish candidacy? -- Reasons for the increase of European opposition since 2001.

The paper analyses the role of various actors in the democratization process in Albania, with specific emphasis on one key participant. It is structured into three distinctive sections: the first identifies the domestic actors in the beginning of transition, such as the political class, civil society, knowledge elite, media etc, highlighting the political class as the most powerful and influential of them. However, the paper argues that instead of being a reliable and responsible factor in the process of democratization and integration, the Albanian political elite has shown a chronic lack of responsibility, willingness, professionalism and commitment to tackle the country's major problems. Its primary objective has been its own self-interest and self-preservation. On the other hand, since Albania opened up to the world, another actor has been crucial for the country, the international community. The subsequent section focuses on this external actor, which has played a significant role throughout the three-decade transition period. It asserts that inability of local actors to deal with domestic challenges and cooperate with one another have 'promoted' this actor, which has been trying to fulfill the role of facilitator and mediator that the state institutions have proved unable to perform. The lack of legitimacy and the unreliability of political parties and other domestic actors have increasingly amplified the importance of this actor. Therefore, the paper argues that legitimacy in Albania lies with the international community and its verdict tends to be considered as final. This is also reflected in public opinion surveys, indicating that Albanian citizens trust much more international than national institutions. The third section analyses the impact and influence exerted by the two most significant external actors: the European Union, whose significance escalated notably post-2000 owing to Albania's aspirational EU membership, steering reforms and providing financial assistance; and the United States, which, through its diplomats and ambassadors, has been very proactive in Albanian politics, helping the country to overcome persistent problems as corruption and organized crime, and more recently the judiciary reform. The paper concludes that Albanian road towards democratization could have had a different trajectory without the involvement and guidance of the international community pushing for and directing reforms. While acknowledging the significance of assistance from external driving forces, the primary onus for the progress of a country should rest upon its domestic actors. Keywords: International community, domestic actors, political class, transition, democratization, European integration, the European Union, the United States.

When will Albania join the EU? Will accession help Albania to achieve prosperity, stability and prosperity? And, what factors are helping it towards this end and what factors are holding it back? An original study of Albania and its relations with the EU, this is the first book to identify and analyse the problems of the country as it moves towards membership of the Union. It explores the political, economic and social transformations needed to make Albanian membership possible. The authors highlight the enormous democratic changes that have occurred in post-communist Albania, as well as the m

This paper aims to present some reflections and legal issues that are crucial andshould be considered when choosing an electoral system. The paper will present currentAlbanian legislation and practices in the process of conferring, choosing and implementingthe electoral systems in Albania as well as citizens rights and preferences with regards tothese issues, as a fundamental pillar of democracy and rule of law.Albania, as many other post communist countries is going through a long process ofdemocratization of life and institutions and is also facing challenges on its road to EUintegration, to tolerant and governments and open-minded society. Elections are very crucialpolitical processes for electing citizens to run the country and take all major decisions on thebehalf of the others. Choosing an electoral system according to which votes of citizens will betransformed into seats of Parliament or offices for elected officials is a very complex processthat requires consideration from all actors such as political parties, citizens, group ofinterests, non governmental organizations etc. These actors, being political or non-politicalones will need to come up with an elaborated decision for choosing the most appropriateelectoral system for a country, since there are many of them implemented all around theworld. Factors, elements, issues, citizen's interests, elections formulas and features to beconsidered when choosing an electoral system, as a matter of choice will be presented moredeeply in this paper.