Suchergebnisse

Despite all the efforts after twenty years, Albania is still considered a transitional government or hybrid regime (Freedom House, 2013). Direct participation of citizens in decision making through referendums is a tool to raise the level of public awareness and encourage critical debate of local community concerns among different actors of the society. Local referendums have the advantage to increase critical mass debate about the concern question raised. However, it is often argued that referendums are problematic because they weaken representative democracy. The notion of referendum implies the coexistence of representative institutions such as local councils and the procedures for the intervention of direct participation of the citizens. Seeing the fact that our representatives are far from representing citizens interests and also the fact of the citizens' apathy, this paper argues that local referendums help to develop local democracy, promoting direct participation and human rights values.

Is there a causal link for the acceptance of the informality between political class and social behavior? This paper intends to tackle this question exploring the retardment of the integration process and social actors' behavior in Albania. In this regard, it is very important to understand the high level of informality in Albanian economy, social behavior and the nature of acceptance by political class. Despite the high level of informality, the will of Albanians to join EU remain high. According to the latest opinion polls, 86. 5% of the Albanians would vote in favor of the EU integration, the largest percentage in the EU integration aspiring countries. Political class, majority and opposition both, accuses each other for the retardment of the integration process, to get the highest support of voters, without bringing concrete solution for the informality and changing the situation. Informality in Albania continues to be a big concern for International Institutions which have been supporting and assisting the state institutions towards the formalization of economy. According to CIA World Factbook, the informality in Albania may be as large as 50% of official GDP during last five years. Regardless of the high level of the informality, government representatives and economy analysts argue that Albania is a country that is not affected directly by the crisis. One of the main factors which help the development of the informality in Albania is the widespread corruption, low level of enforcement, bureaucracies in the administration, politicized administration, habitual change of legislation and electoral promises to change the tax system, citizen's interest for evasion and their adaptability. Another good example to argue our claim regarding the social behavior and links with politics is connected with the non-payment of the electricity not only by citizens, but also by state institutions. In contrast of formal social interaction of different social actors, informality should be read as social disorganization and one of the main obstacles that causes the retardment of the integration process. Keywords: informality, integration, politics, interaction, social behavior. 1.

Migration has become a very sensitive issue for the society not in Albania, but in Europe and beyond it last twenty years. The development through migration seems to be a political issue, therefore it's still regarded a social problem which needs to be controlled. Migration has played a big role within the social order, bounding societies with high cultural differences and beliefs. The case of Albania and Greece, after 1991, helps me to claim that migration has not only influenced the development of both countries, but it has also transformed the social life. This paper aims to take into account two important issue; social transformation and human mobility and its relationship with migration and development, observing the case of Albania and Greece 1991 -2013. The paper will answer the question about the social integration and benefits of both social groups involved; migrants and hosting communities. Globalization (especially after the collapse of the communistregime in Albania), represents an important development in social, economical and political life in both countries, Albania and Greece. The migration of Albanians denied for more than forty years by the communist regime, was reflected with the wave of migration after 1991 initially in Italy and Greece. Within two years, more than 300,000 Albanians emigrated, seeking for a better life, while after 20 years more than 1 million Albanians are living abroad. Albanians are by far the largest groups of foreign workers in Greece, estimated at 650,000 to 800,000. With the economical crises in Greece the situation has changed and many of migrants have decided to return home. What they bring home is not only their money and experience, but they bring most the social transformation. Focusing on the social transformation and human mobility, this research brings into the attention not only benefits of economical developments, but also the social transformation, through exchanging skills and attitude, brain circulation from which benefits both countries.

Despite all the efforts after twenty years, Albania is still considered a transitional government or hybrid regime (Freedom House, 2013). Direct participation of citizens in decision making through referendums is a tool to raise the level of public awareness and encourage critical debate of local community concerns among different actors of the society. Local referendums have the advantage to increase critical mass debate about the concern question raised. However, it is often argued that referendums are problematic because they weaken representative democracy. The notion of referendum implies the coexistence of representative institutions such as local councils and the procedures for the intervention of direct participation of the citizens. Seeing the fact that our representatives are far from representing citizens interests and also the fact of the citizens' apathy, this paper argues that local referendums help to develop local democracy, promoting direct participation and human rights values.Read Complete Article at ijSciences: V3201411602