The Balkan Route

Albania in Contemporary Migration
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-032-95427-1
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 178 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

Reihe: Studies in Migration and Diaspora

This volume presents an in-depth investigation into the dynamics of irregular migration through Albania, which recently have radically transformed the traditional perception of the country from a land of emigration to a crucial transit hub.

Through an interdisciplinary reading, the author examines transformations in migration routes in the Western Balkans, highlighting how the externalisation of EU migration policies has affected the region, leading Albania to become a 'stable containment' point for migrants. The author draws from empirical data, personal stories and policy analyses to explore the complex interactions between migrants, local communities and national and supranational policies. From the exodus of the 1990s to cooperation with Frontex and the latest bilateral accords with Italy, Albania’s trajectory reveals how migration governance has been reshaped at Europe’s borders. Addressing the evolution of the Balkan routes leading to the EU and their interrelation, and the impact of migration on the Albanian social and political fabric, the book concludes by underlining the strategic importance of Albania in European migration routes and the need to reformulate regional and European cooperation in the management of migration flows.

An important new interdisciplinary approach offering fresh perspectives on the role of transit countries in contemporary migration flows, it ultimately points to the importance of multidimensional understandings that integrate sociological, political and humanitarian aspects. It fills a crucial gap in the academic and policy debate and will appeal to scholars, researchers, and policymakers with interests in contemporary migration dynamics and their social and political implications.

Zielgruppe

Academic and Postgraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hasanaj, Shkelzen

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Soziologie von Migranten und Minderheiten
• Sozialwissenschaften Ethnologie | Volkskunde Volkskunde Minderheiten, Interkulturelle & Multikulturelle Fragen
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction. A reflection on the causes and factors of migration 1. Redefining migration routes 2. The Great Escape 3. Migration to and through the Western Balkans and Albania 4. Albanian migration policies 5. Deterrence laboratories: the Italy-Albania agreement in the European context Conclusions. Albania’s “new frontier” and the political geography of mobility

Über Autor(innen)

Shkelzen Hasanaj is Research Fellow in Sociology at the University of Siena and Adjunct Lecturer at the International University of Rome. In 2024 he obtained the Italian National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor in Sociology and serves on the editorial boards of "Rivista Trimestrale di Scienza dell'Amministrazione" and "Studime Sociale".