CEU eTD Collection An Analysis of the January 21, 2011 Demonstrations Through the In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Political Science Political of Department Central European University European Central Albanian Print Media Print Albanian Supervisor: Dr Lea Sgier Lea Dr Supervisor: Albania Divided: Albania Budapest, Hungary Sonila Danaj Submitted to Submitted 2011 by CEU eTD Collection people are exposed to the many influences, including that of peopleincluding many media. tothe areexposed of influences, that the they control part of the electorate and use them to furtherconfirm political not or elites. Local operate elites within theirintheir influence, domain of which political objectives,and monitor control, while they where from the top, the at community international the put power Thus, theis acceptedfactor. confirmation legitimating patterns takenasthe of support or whose actors, of external judgement perceived tothe are subject political personalities and action political events, is that accounts media the from wesee it. picture The against and other the of government the in favour legitimacy: one for compete reality that political of representations two are there that out find and media mainstream in articles opinion the We analyse demonstration. 2011 21, January the on accounts media the of analysis the through politics Albanian contemporary in controversies political the at looks thesis This Abstract i CEU eTD Collection how wediscover world the through language. tranquillity necessarydo aproperto job. their unconditional affection without which and support, I wouldn’t have hadthespiritual find for data the realisation the study.of Andthis finally, like Iwould tothank family for my me helped that Tirana in acquaintances and friends my all thank to like would I Furthermore, discourse. interpreting atfascinatinglook of world be the have able aclearer to to of process doing research meand always for outsidepushing my own box,inthinking order Firstly, Iwould like tothank my supervisor Dr.Lea Sgierfor guiding me through wholethe Acknowledgements This ismy dedicatedwork year four to old niece,Milisa, whohas reminded me of ii CEU eTD Collection I.Dt oy...... 62 VII. Data body VI. References...... 59 V. Conclusion...... 56 ...... 29 IV. Analysis ...... 20 III. Methodology II. Discourse and Politics...... 11 I. Introduction...... 1 ...... iii Table of Content ...... ii Acknowledgements Abstract...... i Table ofContent 3. Democracy and ...... 49 state institutions ...... 36 2. Identity 1. International ...... 29 Community 3. Issues of validity...... 27 2. Sensitizing concepts ...... 25 and main themes ...... 23 1. Data body . ltslaes...... 47 2.3 Elites/leaders 2.2 ...... 44 Political Violence 2.1 People...... 40 iii CEU eTD Collection in the parliament, but they were crucial for the DP to form the government, so they managed sothey DPtoform government, forthe the crucial butthey inwere parliament, the prime minister who left the SP after power conflicts with Nano in 2004. SMI had only 4 intoseatsan alliance with the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) led by Ilir Meta, former SP majority in of 140) seats 70 (out (VOANews.com andenteredof parliament the 24.07.2009) the SP. the Mayor of Tirana, Edi Rama, replaced year of SP rule, DPreturned topowerand the theBerishabecamein minister 2005,while prime exiting prime minister, Fatos Nano,autocraticin leadership the SPand DP(Bideleux Jeffries the and After eight2007: 45-72). as head of developing into new from both parties sides, mostly leavingmain the party because of the opposition the byfractions hasas theheadof DP.Thisthe been period characterised election June 1997.Theof Socialist Party governed Albania until 2005, whereasBerisha led The Albanian collapsed state and the country was led byinteriman untilgovernment the 1997, costing alot of families theirAn insurrectionsavings. defined as civil unrest followed. in whichcollapsed January people pyramid-schemes, the wereappeasedbytheproliferating be but manipulated, heavily consideredto in 1996were heldThe elections Jeffries 2007: 45). “show worrying and beganauthoritarianism”signs of hisincreased, (Bideleux to regime prerogatives Asthepresidential president. became of Labour, Party the of former Secretary a Berisha, Sali (SP). Party Socialist be renamed to soon Labour, of Party the against mandate governmental first its earn spectrum, political the of right the on self-positioned (DP), Party in the newDemocratic Pluralism withand only 1992did Europe. elite, wasnegotiated old the democraticthe swept thewhole communist of revolutions 1989-1990 that and Eastern Central democracy after The Albanian started of to demonstrations the December partpath of 1990as I. Introduction In the DPandits smallerpre-election 2009 elections right-wing allies wonadiscrete 1 CEU eTD Collection government to take responsibility and resign. The government claimed that it had been target been had it that claimed government The resign. and responsibility take to government peacefulkilling on andprotestors streetthe demandedinstitutional justice while the asking ( inthe hospital andafourth person died injured and were officers police of demonstrators were forces,killed, three demonstrators between order and the confrontation people tens the different directions in against city the currentgovernmentdemonstrated the marching four from Tirana, of country”. 1 justice. to officials 21 and resignation which would requestthe governmentandof the delivery the of corrupt the The Socialist Party announced a new wave of demonstrations, which were to start on January shortly been removedhis from position, werediscussing corruptive deals atender offer.over had who Prifti, and Meta Minister Prime Vice the in which recording video a of publication corruptive whichculminated inJanuary abuse governmental of power, 11, 2011with the illegitimacy of and governmentthe ministers,including accused several of those SMI of argue against SPcontinued the(BBCAlbanian.com,Meanwhile, the January to 2011). 8 community, in January CEC following procedures routine ballots destroyed the early 2011 international from the opposition andthe mediate government the between to attempts failed After illegitimate. as parliament the boycotting continuously been have they Consequently, arguing fullof for from vote, the arequestthatwas exposure government, the denied. and protest openingirregular.The SPcontinued requestedthe to andrecounting of ballots the fewballot boxes, as open whichthey declared Electionsa (CEC)refused Commission to Central the because in particular manipulated, were results elections’ the declared that to have Meta appointed vice primeminister and Dritan Prifti as Minister of Economy. The SP This is the enactment of an Albanian expression “nga të katër anët e vendit”, which means “from all over the over all “from means which e vendit”, anët katër të “nga expression Albanian of an enactment the is This Shqip 26.01.2011). Immediately after the killings, the opposition accused the government of 26.01.2011).Immediately opposition accused thegovernment the killings, the after On 21 the st 1 January 2011, according to official twenty January official 2011, accordingreports thousand to people and arriving in front of the Prime Minister’s office. As a result of the 2 CEU eTD Collection years of transition “fuelledfirst ten characterised the 2004:10-17).And (Todorova that conflicts ethnic Europe the then the pictures differentof this Balkan otherness, pathstereotype isbuilt a combination upon of legacy, Ottoman the the legacy socialist and the cementingto modernisation the impressionThe by of (Kressing 2002:14). violence” frequently shattered unpredictable outbreaks is “this of within partof thatEurope Balkans Albanians,the understood context the wider these countries have And rudenessundergoneyet, achievement”. into violence.turned “notable define as which authors the compared determineoutcomes”, d’etat political to coups to looked haveviolentnot forcespoliticians army,to voters the conflict, or and paramilitary the rest of “since Albanian malpractice, 1999 electoral and frequentrough of allegations there are Albania “a yet democracy vigorous rude very insorts”, of which although is party politics Authors like in (2007:72)called itsJeffries of Bideleux regime and type the practices and have been considered positive indexes of the democratic consolidation process in the country. in Agreement Association 2007andthe in Agreement Visa the Liberalisation December 2010 NATONATOinmembership.Acceptance and to signing2009 of the Stabilisation the and achieve in to “progress” democracy makingconsolidating andterms EUand of working investigation, has nobody yetbeen held or responsible officially charged. a preliminary for called were parliament of members several and minister prime the including testifycalled by Although eventually people, toguardsand GP’soffice. the other the of beingthe and part (GP) accusedherof is for why That General minister political the publicly attacked primereasons. the Prosecutor of a coup d’Etat Such behaviour confirm would seem to perception in pre-dominantthe the Westof been has country the reports official in the that considering shocking, was event The and that people were murdered by the opposition, so that they they opposition, usethem andby the sothat murderedcould people that were coup 3 , and eventually refused to deliver guards the refusedto , andeventually CEU eTD Collection The communist continent. European the of rest the to isolationrelation in themselves see Albanians way the affected period had affected not only the perception2010). of the (Chandler West, efficiency of principles the to according built be but should which entity, politicised also becoming of resilient and democratic citizens. Such understanding of the state is that of a de- capacities,buildinstitutional whichwould state for frame the their then the or provide isto economically failing not and democracy in building succeed to countries transitional the for which inorder to according state-building, international of that into developed that were offered to the country (Pandolfi 2002: 204-5). The discourse of the external aid soon packages intervention international the shaped they which to extent the of because particular hasthat been described asArchaic –Oriental – European” (Kressing 2002:13-14). legacies Enver Hoxha.havehelped Both “aof for character Albania the creation very distinct of regime communist the under yearsits 45 self-isolation of dueto in particular marginality, Western Europe.This their from reinforced experience of that andtrack developmental legacy country,the put asall Eastern European other a different intoideological countries, mountaineer” Then socialist the (Kaser 2002:28). braveandrighteous “humble, proud, itswith of opposite which the “barbarians”, co-existent peoplewas andrevengeful asviolent and country the of stereotypes and myths fostered who writers, century twentieth early and nineteenth from the came that wasavailable information limited the So, anyways. peripheral, publics alike. Firstit was because of itbeing part of the Ottoman Empire, within which it was 28). despite thisableof isthat world allefforts the part Europeaniseitself” 2002: (Kaser not to Exposure to the image that was and has been dominating the outside world also image tothe outside the beendominating was andhas world Exposure that in War, Cold the even after have persevered image to the seems Furthermore, western and eastern the to unknown widely was Albania communism, of fall the Until 4 CEU eTD Collection actors that have been operating in the country, but also of the ambiguous reporting of also reporting of but the in ambiguous have of the country, the beenoperating actors that also been characterised by ongoing re-definitions of the political reality. a democratic has of regime, which period to transition in latest the haveresurfaced tensions communists came in power, under the isolated “one country socialism” regime of Enver Hoxha (for more on more (for Hoxha ofEnver Albanianregime history see socialism” country “one isolated the under power, in came communists opposition. Several invasions and territorial claims were made until the end of World WarII, when the Plus in1928, Prime Minister country. Ahmet the Zogu in declaredpresence himself international “King an of and the Albanians”sovereign andexternal prosecuted appointed an allpolitical of territories, distribution their to not recognised until July when1913, theConference of AmbassadorsLondon in decided togrant itconditional 2 corruptandof autocraticpower. patterns local leaders’tendenciesto well against as state history presents several instances of struggle against foreign imposition influenceor as in in the1990s,asmany herhistory (Kressingbefore” times modern 2002:22).Albania’s influences “theoutside of contradictory because evenmore development andsocial economic 2004:105-6). changes”economicand (Schwandner-Sievers attendant liberalisation of implementation driven policy international an following prosperity quick of disillusioned expectations as well as scale national and local a both on structures political of definitions in governmentvarious andstate initiatives periods hasencouraged “individual which and re- collapse of repeated the have Albanians experienced ‘ideoscapes’, and ‘financescapes’ globalExposingSievers oneself to flows 2004:105). ‘mediascapes’, of‘ethnoscapes’, (Schwandner- economy politics” and of communication society, in changes spheres the identity, aswell 2003:96-7; 102). (Sulstarova, totheir national shock aserious fall caused regime the of the that intrinsically so ideology in butfedrighteousness was rooted Revivalwhich National the discourse with party the Albanians’ image self.of Thecommunist an rhetoric fostered identity of self-pride and After 500 hundred years500 hundred After of rule, AlbaniansOttoman declared independence on28 November1912, butit was Currently, the contradiction is not only the resultof the differing attitude of the many The exposure to a post-communist global world has affected Albanian political, Albanian affected has world global a post-communist to exposure The So, periodthe of intransition Albaniahas been characterised by“continuousmassive Zickel and Iwaskiw 1994; Elsie 2004; 2011). 5 2 Such CEU eTD Collection as the analysis will show the interaction with the outside world has become central in central the become has outside world the with interaction show the will as the analysis conflicting interpretations and representations inFurthermore,of politicalthe reality Albania. being of it, governmentandthe insupport which in the secondagainst was reflected their main firstvariousone wereskewedin atdegrees,the although Commentators two positions, with its citizens; identity; institutions institutions; of state state the relationship various the relationshipthe the between and the role with a myriadof of themes such politicalas violence, state the of in democracy country the and the internationalintertwined was of demonstration the initial purpose and “incident”, the of effect the broader community in domesticin attention peoplewas focused on the wereshotthe the denouncing after corruption, square, politics. by eventof the January media on whilepreviously 21. Thus, wasmostly the concentrated and media proliferated in were accentuated butthey Albanian beenarticulated hadthe already acceptable. considered likewise which were previous to rounds, made compared been improvements have some seemto there notdemocratic, were although elections that the The languageusedsuggests report on we read(italics electionsreport on added): 2009, national the by which have monitored In beenregularly summary OSCE/ODHIR. executive the the of in on elections, reporting Oneexample isthe country. the present organisms international Some of Some of themesin “meaning and is (Taylor 2001:9) which these created contested” 1). a responsible mannerin order to of preserve theintegrity the (OSCE/ODHIR, 2009: process parties theletter to respect and of the purpose thelaw discharge and electoralto their dutiesin political Albanian of all commitment the upon largely also depends elections democratic of Albania’s potential toadhere to the highest standards for democratic elections process. campaign. These actionsof political parties of the process, including during the vote count and tabulation, which temporarily blocked the blocked counting temporarily which tabulation, and count vote the during including process, of the These processconsensual a in manner by adopted mainthe two thevoting,parties, counting and the adjudication of framework, election disputes. legal the process, identification and registration voter in some areas, as well as by substantial improvements were overshadowed bythepoliticisation While meeting most OSCEcommitments, these elections did notfullyrealise The 28 June 2009 parliamentary electionsmarked 6 undermined publicconfidence violations tangible progress observed during election the of technical aspects with regard to the in the election . The conduct . The CEU eTD Collection opinion articles, we can identify accepted patterns of in patterns power international of the which accepted we canidentify opinion articles, have crises in politicalcontinuous that putthe process a deadlock. to leading society in tensions ongoing create they that soconflicting are interpretations These political intoaction. engage legitimise and/or to an inattempt general public the them to against andpresent or such patterns support in whoconstruct theircommentators, position media of andshapethediscourse perception inself, Albanians’ underlie the of which ambiguities causethe that of power in thepatterns media analyze and the political discourses of undertake meresearching this toproject encouraged questions democratisation? These Albanian do they us Whattell about patterns? these and towards attitudes power the of action or political actors? What are their intentions? courses specific events, about andbeliefs assumptions create in to constructed order accounts What do they tell us about patterns of in democratisation Albania.process for the negative influence a and consequently sovereignty of country’s as the a violation considered is intervention international whereas objectives, and interests have involved actors behaviour as the proceedings of argueforfirst one, andits an supporters understanding of situation political the and political a context of politics in whichitslips backauthoritarian to conflict forms of rule. The second representation is articulated against is the normal, as long asinternational guarantee the community to continuity indemocracy of Albaniaand preventthat the of intervention external the need therefore and regime democratic sustainable a build is one first that and of image of a perceivedcountry and violent unableto a primitive people, citizenry. and democracy of model western the with not or compatible as themselves defining of way fundamental a as self, of perception Albanians’ In this thesis I am going to argue that through mainstream media argue that through such as discourses to In thisthesisIam going media are How created? controversies political these are how is then The question competing AlbaniaThere media.The Albaniansinthe of and representations are two 7 CEU eTD Collection unified concept inunified concept mindof the observers outside than insiders, this to case study should be are undergoing the democratisation process. Moreover, considering that the Balkans is amore Ottoman and the socialist legacy whilesimilar beingexposed to influences external as they more with specificallytheEuropean countries, Balkan countries, the which Albaniashares Eastern of other that suchas context, in similar a operate that dynamics some us understand in democracy country. the world around isopinion and exposed which to, they employ in togiveorder and the meaning construct them. In otherlanguagetheir apicture wecan of influences under Albanianthe construct the which public words, we such ofhavepositions that andattitudes constructed those through Furthermore, discourse. use media as understand mode and it political of helps and representation scientists action analyzing a window to lookpublic opinion on a particularissue orevent.Discourse is, asFairclough (1992) tells usa at the statemedia discourses of to which the society exploresystems the constructing 1989:1),weneed of andModigliani meaning”(Gamson to is exposed to in order parallel as“two to aretreated Although they and mediaopinion. public discourse between such understand the formation of usurpers. into turn and legitimacy lose they then sovereign, the of will tothe respond not do elite political the moment the people, canreplacethe actor external no because And level. international the at behalf in their interact which representatives, shouldbe the people as a body politic that transfer their decision-making power to political tries demarcate to Albanians against suchinfluences, by supporting the claimitis that orit media, mainstream the of articles in opinion underrepresented is which discourse, alternative control each of “their” people,community while trying tois influence the authority the rest of the public legitimizing opinion. The or not the acts of the political elite, which then Apart from uncovering the specificities of the Albanian case, this case study help can casestudy case,this Albanian of the specificities from the Apart uncovering The study of media discourses is relevant because of the relationship that exists 8 CEU eTD Collection theoretical debate on issues of language and politics upon which is constructed analytical the isconstructed upon which issueslanguage on and of politics theoretical debate an I present of the overview chapter andPolitics” in “Discourse introductory the chapter, Albanianof andpolitics state of affairs, the research question itsand main inthesis the formation. andmedia in discourses role their Albanian andof opinion study public comparative in-depth for path for amore paving comprehensive isimportant the However, this exercise the event in analysis space, Iwill published onaselection bearticles of discourse after doing 50 opinion five mainstream dailyothers. some not or intentionally newspapersinterpretation, and inan analysisincluding wemightbe leaving while certain out aspects, and covering to is subject see whatwe Although seeit. to public) (the their readers want they how and a time commentators (and possibly their publishers)seethe of process democratisation inperiod Albania of tendiscourseby looking wesee at how articles, In caseof (Taylor specific opinion the 2001:9). days. people enablesandconstrains not only ideas their expression also certain butof whatthey do” to available “the language that assumption it” basic underthe within society and people the aspects of how constitute these can “show we oflanguage, identify Aspatterns we reality. discourses allows us understandhow languageto is usedtocreatemeaning andrepresent highest circulation, focusing on the particular case of opinion articles. Analyzing media in dailieswith the printed mainstream analyzing presentdiscourses the of that dominant of Albanianthe society (Kajsiuhas been constructed 2010:234).The angle Ihave chosen is ‘trivialise’attempt to the Balkans, andnormalise to thus them”(Todorova 2004: 16-17). “inan intra-state or intra-Balkan studies more comprehensive towards asastep considered The paper is structured inisThe paper five After familiarising thereaderwith structured chapters. context the be This studydoesnotpretendexhaustive,becauseavailability to dueto timeof and “essence” the which through discourses political the on focus will I Methodologically 9 CEU eTD Collection some ofits limits and afew provide for further suggestions research. democracy in the country. I conclude of state the and elites; the and violence political of people, the with concepts the on focus special a summary ofa with theidentity mainAlbanian community; researchinternational the themes: main three of findings,interpretation the explain focuses on chapter The analysis methodology chapter. subsequent in inthe details explained framework of the study. The approach to data selection, analysis and the interpretation are 10 CEU eTD Collection elites are usually of state, the part which is a providerbenefits, of butwhich can alsoposit relationship of the masses. The andthe elites political the massesbetween as intermediary andact decision-makers with the political of the arecollaborators semi-insiders reality, whereas political shaping decisions, thus the elites is complicated, actually take the ones who Insidersare producers. call also we can which andsemi-insiders, in particular insiders by The so-called isthe elite conducted interact. politics and interconnect dimensions because the three see howthese need to in we them, wecanobserve that patterns power underlying 11). has become in game themeta-level which 2010: political andmanaged isplanned the (Louw imagery mythology and alsoare manufactured, known massas Thepolitics. thirddimension namely the substantive withinparalleloperate two environments, itspolitical each with ownpractices and discourses, policy making, now politicians and three-dimensional is already process also political The media. mass the known as elite politics,professionalization of its evencommunication haspolitics, in proliferated thanksparticular to and the hype, invarious formswhich both face to face and through mediation of people or structures. With the and patterns reproduce in discursively power transform to a society. anddiscursive andmove on social to explainpractice, mechanismsare employed that the asa discourse of role the politics, in contemporary themedia of role is, the communication political what explaining by begin I media, Albanian mainstream of articles opinion in underlie representations the competing the describe that goingof patterns the to power In chapter, Ipresentthis the theoretical upon which my framework isanalysis based.As I am andPoliticsII. Discourse In order tounderstand mediaa plausible interpretation In order of and present the discourses in conducted hasa multidimensional phenomenon become Political communication 11 CEU eTD Collection though, individual donottell opinions much us of collectivethe public opinion, unlessthere assumptions, feelings only joinedwhen andsomehow integrated a comparativetogether. Without for the process and beliefs action and thought individual of level the ofbeyond significance others, gain They opinion. collective whether in accord andbea issues buildingblocks Individual understood of resolved. shouldare the opinions or disaccord with their own, be foundin discourse, political attemptingthus influence to public opinion. mainstreamthrough media. Theirpowerstands inthe selection and shaping of themesthe to articulate and distribute their thoughts to wider audiences to of means outsiders, the have they or consumers, that means which mostly masses, the and elites the between intermediaries media in mostly theroleserving of commentators, orpersuasive asinterpretative They the with to. work be subject to expected with and public, presented are general the structures, state the but work for insidersthe in creating the hype with which i.e. outsiders,the educated individuals, middle-class, perhaps not hold which do decision-making in positions facilitate whogroups. these insiders between They relationshipthe two are usually well- 1985: 1). resembles patterns the Edelman itis as“Nowdefined ‘us’and itoften is ‘them’” (Edelman and citizens state between relationship the means which that state, the control elites that the with antagonise citizens the second the in whereas structures, its with identify and legitimate the majority neglecting is state or the when asworking Thisis seen against perception reinforced purposes. of its own for theirmasses own by the to them conferred power the asifthey use cases areperceived citizens. worksIn forthe the firstpeople.that instrument an is considered state the situation citizens. itsa democratic In own to threats Nevertheless, scenario it is directedthe citizens and operates through recognise elites, who in manythe state as Public opinion is a process characterised by conflict and disagreement on and public how is on disagreement Public opinion characterised byconflict a process semi- is the it politics, mass and politics elite between tension the ease to order In 12 CEU eTD Collection transparent,” and then we look for “as many indicators, data and knowledge as possible manipulation,mechanismsmakeand propaganda explicit demagogy, and discrimination, of as a way “to uncover and weshould atdiscourse astext, see it When look we andassocial practice. practice discursive de-mystify certainas astext, arediscourse which dimensions, several consideration into take to has scholar social processes in this and other societies, them intocompeting representations (Gamson 1992). to they words, stimulateare employed discourageto and/or both existingframes, which turns for specific courses foraction of ideologiesand particular In (Edelman other 1988: 1-11). representations of political reality instrumentsare used of as winningand support opposition These facts. stating than rather world the about beliefs and assumptions contrasting for creating devices become andleaders threats, crises, issues,problems, of political media Consequently,politicalinterpretationsdevelopments. and actions accounts of current Political andfeeds onconflicting andcontroversy aspirations revolves strategies. anxieties, ofview, points perceptions, meaninggenerate therefore and are machinesthat They with them. publicsconcerned the for andreassurances of series threats a creating thus reconstructing issues of public concern,such social as crisis,problems, andleaders, enemies, and by mediaconstructing continuously isconstituted spectacle whole political 1988: 2).The (Edelman helpful” or pathological as minorities interest, public the or aclass of supports as policies economic aggressive, or just as wars benevolent, or tyrannical as perceived univocal: are “leaders not are Media in representations this respect. ambivalentinescapably (Crespi 1997: 47-9). leads by inturn of media; totheemergence opinion and which collective facilitated the is case in our which of communication, from process the whichemerges mutual isawareness Fairclough Fairclough (1992: 62)recommends thatwhen languageanalyzing asdiscourse, the is its role communication, political media incurrent of ubiquity of Because the 13 CEU eTD Collection is not only where power struggles are fought but also something over which struggles butalso somethingoverfought which strugglespower not only power are iswhere society (Fairclough 1992: 65). a particular of both transformation and the reproduction the to contributes practice discursive their system of knowledgeconstruct their each-other and relations to tothingsorinstitutions,how and they construct or belief. Due to its identity, identity, peoplehow understand anddescribe perceive own howthey their and understand relational and ideationalrelationships and systems of knowledge andbelief. we discourse Through can and read into functions, meaning (Fairclough 1992: 64). to represent the world, but also togive meaning it, to i.e. constitute and construct the worldin norms language very the institutions not only behindthemshapediscourse.So, isa and way constrained bysocial (Faircloughstructure,” 63)which1992: means socialthat identity and mode of representation” (Fairclough 1992: 63);and“discourse secondly, is that shaped and as well as a each other, world and...upon the upon may people act in which “oneaction form and social practice. That implies two important elements: firstly, that discourse is a mode of see of adiscursive perspective language from the is in to political discourse aspect analyzing Halliday butfor2007: 261;orWodak1989), thepurposes of most study this the relevant example (for structures and itswords grammatical through realised one well as ametaphorical language, then itwe consideras a manifestation socialof change (Wodak 1989:xv). cultural andifweobserveachangein social relation change (Fairclough 1992), to or isis we can whether in investigate there xiv). Itchange discursive that this any at point also andinterpret understandhow and why isreality in structured a certain way” (Wodak 1989: enable behaveus to examined, to (which) to of processes context these whole the concerning Discursive practices are not separated from arenot practices separated Discursive meanssocial practice which that discourse social identities, as social such aspects in several is constitutive Discourse as of reality, representation as a referential discourse to is dimension linguista There 14 CEU eTD Collection 2005: 323).Opinion formation is through done employmentthe of ideologicalthese elements, by social antagonisms Furthermore, hegemony “the existence the logicfield of of a social presupposes criss-crossed ideology by legitimate holders,of power the produced them theirto and position claims. and the availability the through hegemony is Therefore, constructed of Leuw coercion deployment 2010:14). (see for theirinterests; variousin interest alliancesbetween organizing groups society;the and the of contingentcomposed of building tasks:three legitimacy consentand and for dominant the group support ideological conceptwas introducedhegemony. The latter byGramsci, whom according to hegemony was elements” confirmingcompeting versions, called whatFairclough one’s establishingor above other of face the in (Howarthworld the of version one establish to trying are they i.e. persuasion, shapedby of representations intent are the discursive inintentionality Competing process. the Consequently, oneshould2000:176). beanalyzing when discourse, awareof presenceof the (Fairclough 1992: 86-93). relations and power ofsocial contexts asexisting aswell innew arearticulated stories that contributes to the reproduction or transformation of the order of discourse, i.e. how prior a strugglehegemony, for in termsof distributingproducing, andconsuming texts,astruggle it is words, other In (Fairclough 1992: 67). andof ofoverpower” exercise the struggle power within is generated as relations “for significations ideology independent, a dimension power These diverse practicesarenot (Fairclough 1992:67). inrelations” positions power of sustains andchangessignifications from world the it“constitutes, ideological practice, collective relations between 1992:67).Asan which (Fairclough entities power obtain” the and relations power changes and sustains “establishes, discourse political practice, orientations that are interwoven intoit, without any of them being reducible discourse.to As a ideological or political has cultural, economic, As discourse asocial fought for. practice are (Gill world the a neutralof meansdescribing and reflecting isnot language Thus, 15 CEU eTD Collection expression of the dependence on the past experience in a particular society, the evocation evocation of society, the a particular experience in on past the dependence the of expression well Thecultural in theircounter-themes isas 1992: 135-145). discourse (Gamson element an as themes, cultural of dimensions bydifferent are represented and resonances cultural called are expression of modes These analogies. and similarities negative or positive of parallels discourses one often finds the use of past events or stories describeto current ones by drawing 2). Common sense has cultural historical whichand means grounds, in that contemporary 20- criticise 1991:1; (Billig sense common senseto common representationseven woulduse competing of in case the sense, which common of themes are more successful be thepersuasive for TheculturalmechanismsinDonati employed rhetoric to order 1991: 139). inputs” and the cultural bymeanstools of which people respond and assimilate them (see competingmediadiscourse: frames, in practices forwarding and these “original transforming materialisationthe of an abstraction in(Moscovici 1983 1991:63-65).Billig Objectification also turns the unfamiliar intothe familiar, a process that has been described as classification, anchoringis a constituent process perceivingof that refers a socialto universal. system of thought. pre-existing the into integratingthem thus seem categories, toordinary that threatening Consideringwhereas the second a thatparticularmaintwo anchoringways: through and objectification, first the one being auniversal process, all in individual the of one. act the by or media mass the of societies Anchoringintervention the through transformations, is the process have of duringThey 1991: 58). are generated senses(Billigtheir and universal particular reducingtheir unknown own thingssystem of namingBillig 1991:14). and processes of ideology serve also asmeansmobilizing of consciousness in (Thompson 1987 bymobilizing meaning mobilisation the the whichthrough way operate Inthis discourse. of That is why Gamson proposes the combination of three elements when studying in both representations, social as them consider we articles opinion analyzing When 16 CEU eTD Collection transition was characterised by exposure to western influenceswhichhave and transition byexposure perceptions was characterised particular As mentioned, western from the world. already developed post-communist politics. for democratic as a pre-condition standards would allow for a reformation, if not building of state institutions according to democratic institutions from not. Theisstate resultof thearticulation a separation of thus which politics, interaction between individuals, which institutional excludes aspect,the either intentionally or development The process. understanding of intheseispolitics constructs an reduced to andeconomic social as well as democratisation the of outcome unsatisfactory for the blamed Kajsiu (2010)speaking inthe context of crisis representation inof Albaniasays, is politics accountability. free position,ideology from hence or them and of as arepresentative a particular there-ness designed150) calledprovide the procedures to asense ofneutrality and detachment (1996: as“objective”Potter construction these and“impersonal”. of social representations media. Albanian at them in willcontext helpdefinitely usunderstand discursive practices inand processes the of politicalsocialisation, the leaders the specific and (Doob1966:46-52; events 60). Looking if completelymore process atthe so, we look but canbe byculture, public explained opinion despite intentionality,opinion.is legitimacy because gain However,enough not evokingthepast and support, to the results are dependent and of public hence collective of behaviour, lie cultural determinants the basic past some on more than one piece of whichdiscourse. provides Thus, the resemblance necessary to make the new content easy to capture. In that Such representations rely heavily on the discourses that come from in outsiders, from Such discourses come heavilyonthe that rely representations in discourse, asBlendi arefoundinThese anti-politics which, the representations is the discourses media analyzing when consideration into be taken to element A final . These procedures are used to draw away the attention of the reader from from writer the reader the of awaydraw attention the areusedto procedures . These 17 out- CEU eTD Collection nowadays “lack even formal the formulatecapacity publicto independently policy of the states, non-western of category the under all EU, the to accession aspiring Albania as such countries, European eastern asthose well as countries Poor community. political particular longer demarcatesthebetween orwhois dividinglineinsidewhat is and who outside a The 2010: 191). impact of for example, is such practices sovereignty,visible: no already (Chandler threat eliminate to necessary capacities institutional to build the states transitional itwhichassistbecomes international to paramount weakor intervention, to according of discursive frame the understanding of different capacities serves as apologia for the status quo longer articulatedasideological orpolitical,as economic but andinstitutional. Inthis (Chandler 2006: 191).internationally” power for projecting capacity Self’s Western levelof the the changes at In a post-cold war era,that they serve the purpose of hiding interests the of power. Nonetheless, they do reveal “political threats to the andideological too are discourses these such arguesthat constitute Chandler discourse. David western way of life areinreproduced Albanianthe medialook at wehave to the underlying that dimensions no capacity autonomously (Chandler189-191). to 2010: democratise in arelimited certain their states that is assumption basedonthe discourse Such economically. democratise develop to and from intheir attempt failing fragilestates prevent transitional butasanecessity to sovereignty, state longer asviolating no is seen intervention discourse institutionalism, capacityand empowerment building. state According this to type of of impersonal rhetoric new and depoliticised bythe 1990swasreplaced the intervention of aid humanitarian and foreign initial the before long not was It NATO. or EU the as bodiessuch international bemember of to aspiration the came with along that conditionality we add the that To societies. particular within hierarchies and patterns new power created In order understandIn order to how international the state-building is discourse being 18 CEU eTD Collection of of external international (Chandlerpowers 2006:191-2). requirements of international institutions”, beingthus having reducedtoadministrative bodies 19 CEU eTD Collection and by Thereareattempts itextensively. reflect nevertheless line; do they main editorial embrace the necessarily not do Thearticles present. are also matters economic and social however, nature; issues public profile latest the inmostly on comment concern debate, political thepublic of of commentaries, ranging from one to four articles per issue, in which individuals of a sort of twopagestoeditorials,classify as Theyallreserve or and opinions one tabloids. (news onentertainment and sports arteconomics, chronicle, politics, like included)issues cover dailies These pages. and are considered as broadsheets, but they also cover issues that headquarters headquarters of politicalthe generally parties still exist” (Lani and Çupi 2002: 82). the link with journals the threads thatthe but press, anindependent taken towards they “thefreeinitially party add that press emerged asa press. Subsequently,somewere steps local both linked businessand up with various groups, international.For thecaseAlbania, of Lani makeand Çupi (2002: 80-86) of mediain the Balkansthe aseconomically weak, hence in fits with description country,by largerthe which businesses newspapers areownedthe as pro-government. These two government, whiletheother the positionedto as oppositional and right ( you can trace some politicalMonitor ( inclination towards by Research independentCentre regularsurveysthe tothe conducted Albania, according left ( in be most read the considered to chosen are The newspapersIhave 31, 2011. January 21 to mainstream mainstream newspapers: Albanian in articlesselection In published the daily study, Ianalyzea this opinion of III. Methodology Shekulli Mapo Shekulli Monitor articles that clearly go in a different direction from the editorial line. For example, line.For from editorial the direction clearly goin a different that articles to put a disclaimer about the opinions held in that section, while we see in Panorama , Panorama 2010: 33). The selected dailies are considered as “independent”, although consideredas“independent”, dailies are 2010:33).The selected and Shekulli, GazetaShqiptare and Mapo Mapo ), which), means the first that threewould currently be have 24 pages each, pages 24 have 20 , Shekulli Panorama Shqip , Gazeta , and Shqip Shqiptare Gazeta and Shqiptare Mapo and , from Shqip Shqip 32 ) CEU eTD Collection are written by semi-insiders and published in mainstream media, which means that they that means which media, in mainstream published and semi-insiders by written are competingfor alegitimised in position Albanian the (Gill discourse public 2000: 276).They discourse. Despite theirindividual character, they do serve as social representations of themes political the of interpretation and analysis in-depth more a for allow and content their section on opinions orcommentaries, although presentingindividual arericheropinions, in the Furthermore, channels. communication political the of part being in their mainly is articles in newspaper interest the As scientist, apolitical influence” 2008:32). and (Mautner political butalso intensity “their data, publicattention very becauseof with ubiquity, coupled usage, media”2008: 23-39). “independent (Patterson of umbrella the under publish they when especially is reinforced that influence an exert they Delia. influential actors,because journalistic They important underbecome the cloak political figures theartist andliterary prominent such as thewriter QosjaXhovalin or critique Rexhep other and Ballauri Elsa and Galdini Arian as such society civil the of representatives and professionals Hasimja, Ermal and Duma Grida as such university the at lecturers whoare currently invited talkregularly to showstogive opinions onvarious issues)to andjournalists, butwhoarecurrently involved business inother such activities, Çili,as and Lubonja, Andrea Stefani,and EdliraMustafa Gjoni, prominent well-known journalists or so-calledNano opinionists orsuch as Fatos Henri Çili (people who have startedopinions more visible in evenpublic, writingthrough newspaper articles. their career make their people to certain whichallow of publicprofile writer, the connections as aswell Berisha’s political behaviour in behaviour political Berisha’s manages topublish his inopinions but government Berisha the of administration political in the official an been has Galdini Newspaper articles were chosen not only because of the practical ease to collect the to practical of the ease onlybecause not werechosen articles Newspaper The writers range from professional journalists such as Sokol Shameti, Anila Basha Mapo Shqip . A plausible explanation for this might be personal might this for explanation A plausible . , while MishaPirro has hispublished open critique to 21 CEU eTD Collection format, a process which I started since the end of January. However, other newspapers allow other January. since of the end However, started which aprocess I format, downloading the newspaper weeks starting from January 14 (one week before the event) until the end of February. such asAlbania. democratisation process the undergoing I was still country in a post-communist discourse political current havethe aviewon beto will able daily newspapers we will be able to cast light on these discourses.reality”by 2008:32).Consequently, in (Mautner opinion analysing mainstream the articles In short, we could say we constitutivethe effectof its –power discourse is, that shape to widely sharedconstructions of large“dissemination audiencesenhances that nevertheless,to We know public opinion. do, Albanian general the areof incommentaries ideas presented the how representative know country. inthe power of perceived the you patterns can of detect articles byanalyzingthesetypes words, other consideringreflect they both to that try andshape such an opinion In (Fairclough 1992: 55). politics, and usahintgive of maindiscussionsthe in publicopinion,the especially opinions they us give opportunity the understandto the main ofAlbanianrepresentations Furthermore, (2008:32). dailies weekliesareobvious toturn to” sources categorised and as major the voices, idiosyncratic or than dissident rather discourses, in dominant interested it“if are you January and asMautnerput 21; of demonstration event: the particular political as suchwecan observe and whichare articulated, inthey about and which context constitutivethe They alsoreflect means is of the production ownership of meansof the rhetoricpersuasive (Billig 1991: 4). represent an account of the ruling rhetoric orideology, considering that the ownership of the In this particular case, they are a sample of elite discourses and their interpretation of a The data were initially collected from nine newspapers covering a time period of of 6 period covering atime nine newspapers from wereinitially The collected data wecannot of method analysis, qualitative and the sample sizeof of the the Because what is being said, as well as well as said, being is Shqip from the website, as it was available for free on line in pdf 22 how isbeing said (Billig 1991:20). CEU eTD Collection articles are sometimes published in published articles are sometimes removed because itnow availableis only and online, more resembles ablog to and its main which the same person publishes regularly, while others are sporadic. Likewise, are sporadic. others regularly, while same personpublishes which the had a smaller number of of articles the my sample from to remove authors, i.e. their Idecided is criterion thatof authorship: of third year.The the firstquarter newspapers the for opinion section resembles more to a column, in Shekulli Monitor starting from the day of the protest until the end of January. Furthermore, as mentioned above, authors writing in the commentary/opinion section. Idecided toanalyze only the first ten days of andvariety rates, sale period, time criteria: three basedon was choice the Nonetheless, confirm).lack possibly readership Icannot studies, to of empirical different due (which publishauthors in more than one daily,most of havethem differenteditorial lines, and you although seecertain difficult, because, was I would analyze. Thechoice newspapers that 2008: 35).The firstscaling down of datawasdoneby the reducing the numberof the a cyclical (Mautner narrow process through down Iwasobligedto constrains time and space dueto which articles, body 700 of wasadata collection data my preliminary of The result 1. Data body then photocopied. newspaperswere the The restof Metropol (one of the papers I laternewspapers, soIwasablehave to inpdfformat Shekulli and while Mapo, Panorama and removed from the data body) some of the Icontacted Meanwhile, the missing. ones andcollected data the I verified Firstly, I could have in hard copy.fund. newspapers’ the Iconsulted where Library, National Albanian went tothe I research, you only copy-pasteto from htmlthe version, which I tried doto regularly. Then, during field , (2010: 33) conducts regular surveys on the readership and according to their data: theaccording readershipand to regularsurveyson (2010:33)conducts Gazeta Shqiptare , Shqip Shekulli , Panorama Metropol . 23 and recently and , Koha Jonë and Mapo Standard are the most sold , because they because , Tema was CEU eTD Collection first dayssoon moved focus and the but issues violence, was on political of tothe state the In event. the to back it link and aspect single one on concentrate others while issue, the opposition and the international community. of Some them a comprehensivetake at outlook state institutions (in particular the General Prosecutor and the President), the government, on future;the and interpretations of follow-upthe behaviourthe of variousthe agents such as the recommendations and predictions andresponsibilities; effects causes, demonstration: of the interpretation the as such themes focused on are articles The selected paper. for each articles the total sample of 50, in there thesis.However, of this question research the to on theirbut relevance basis, a one-per-day is at least one article published on every selected exampleparticular of (“Help American Ambassador the usArvizu!”). date and ten as well therelationshipas betweenAlbanians and internationalthe community, through the understandingthe followed of eventthe andwhat (“Thedayafter”), andissuesidentity, of of of view amore comprehensive articles give two first the Whereas in focus analysis. the are at that themes other the dwelling into without officers, respect order to appeal as an was written the Guard and the Honour ofhad articles three published in the Soldier.” I removedZheji Artur example, For consideration. into wastaken articles of the content the of relevance the latter from the sample,cases had when duringthey that ten-day published Andfinally several period. times the because it Editorial column). I ofalso the choseshorter one articlesor maximum selection2000 words.The content-basedbased. Iremoved andformatmost was my from set as twowell articles as those from without for myfor articles which from final eachnewspaper) approximately (10 thesis, 500- range the same authorship author, in(which the apreliminaryconducted Afteranalysis. preliminary the Idecidedanalysis, toselect50 were published under the Although articlesthe were publishedfrom 31,21 January they to selectednotwere on The firstselection reduced my body 128 data to articles, which I readthrough and Mapo : “The: “Helpday after”, usArvizu!” and “The Honour of 24 CEU eTD Collection suggests, it is easier Iwas working concepts the in had with texts the I was analyzing. acquired Asthe literature to refine them or evensensitizing concepts werereplace very useful for they allowed me to be open to the new attributes that them completelyintoturning fixedisolated instruments. definitive and Such characteristics operating of the with new appropriate risking researcher’s facilitate the use without to in as becouldorder questions posed easily hypotheses.fluid They changepreliminary are andduring subjectresearch to the and process, serve as andalso for, perhaps look look, what to where to to her attention directing concepts, ideas, notions or questions that serve as astarting point orguidance for aresearcher, systems of knowledge and belief in the contemporary Albanian context. socialidentities,Albanian constitutes discourses howdiscourse relationships andthe and saw the event after immediately articles newspaper the analyzing while offramework, Fairclough’s following JanuaryConsequently representation. of and action 21, of mode a as activity, individual an not practice I tried to detect Albanianthe In context. wordsIhaveother atlanguage looked useasaform social of the societalwithin event the explain wereusedto concepts andhow articles of the content the at looking and culturalI was means itswhich that practice, discursive buton linguistic aspectsof at the discourse, constrains phrases, Forthe purposes look inof andeventually sentences study,text. this not Idid detail that shapelinguistic analysis, suchasthefrequency words of and their inlinguistic such use structures as entails framework aspect of the Thefirst practice. social as and practice as discursive text, As it was explained Faircloughlookat inthetheory discoursechapter, to (1992) proposes as themes and main concepts 2. Sensitizing topic. intervention diplomatic community international institutional functionality,by and endof the timethis period wesee theexpansion of the In order to do that I worked with sensitizing concepts (Blumer 1954), which are which (Blumer sensitizingI worked with concepts 1954), do that In orderto 25 CEU eTD Collection state vs. the masses. vs.the state Political violence similar process was conducted for all selected themes, which are: violencein is juxtaposition put with committed violence the by A mass the of protestors. 181). Forexample,violence isspecifically aseitherdiscussed verbal physical, or and state frames if of resultsrepresentation, confuse which ignoredwould (SeeGill2000:179- our competing is of in concepts done these theyconstruction because two andconcept; secondly, a more detailed construct help comprehensivefirstly,because aspartial us propositions they important twofold: were concepts with these associated attributes the from category, the apart me conduct the cyclical selectiondealtwith Ihadinitiallythat The incorporated. becausepre-analysisimportant was helped it of the saturated sample of mentioned50 and/or spoke of articles.the above, while realizing that there were more important concepts Then I realised thatidentified articlesanalysis, intojustin the Ilooked whichauthors and thesentences margins of page,each suchas pplforleg or people legitimacy for and During soon. the pre- sections in sensitizing werewhich concepts the mentioned, and putting the initials on the myreread getfamiliar articles Iwentto with them. through them Then again highlighting the for eventthe representations inWith inmind, sensitizing question. concepts read andthese I competing of frame in the elites/leaders, people, the institutions, democracy, reconciliation, analysis somelegitimacy, sensitizing namelyviolence, I used concepts, reputation, Iwasinterpreting. context the Guba and Lincoln 2004; Bowen 2006). In this way, Iwas able toidentify the particularities of context-specific (Blumer ones 1954; Connolly Denzin 1978; 1983; 2002; Blaikie 2000;Patton I expected many themes to be represented in the newspaper articles, so to guide my was used todefinei.e.verbal type, and i.e. and physical violence, a agency, 26 CEU eTD Collection account (Maxwellaccount firstly, means validity,2002: 49-51): descriptive thatresearcher the which into be taken validity to of levels three Thereare data. than rather accounts, the refers to research caseof qualitative in validity particular the that argues one’s research of (2002:42) Maxwell discourse. analysing of traditions theoretical of on the isbased analysis The method validity of 3. Issues in involved context. the agents the into community international the include not do if we understood be clearly was intheAlbanianindecisive democratisation. Thedynamics of cannot power country the international community Reconciliation behaviour in framethe of historical determinism and fatality. of current asindicators past, recent the and history state-formation Albanian reflected Reputation mostly on personality traits, such as autocratic, insane and closed. The concept of elites. the from instrumentalisation and self-determination periphery. and centre Othersocial and economic political, of lines the into attributes divided are which groups, are those of body ismadepublic people asainterestwhich the and unitary various between single difference the and private, which of the The concept are discussed in (institutional)-buildingterms and state capture.of state usurpation, legitimacy and and government, between governance to makedifference the trying of institutions, independence the andthe of separation powers issuesof were discussed Democracy was discussed within a major theme, such thatof such as major theme, a within was discussed was articulated as the process of democratic state-building. In that frame there and elites/leaders people reputation . The understanding of the media commentators was that their agency their that was commentators media the of understanding The . was developing around what can be seen as a new articulation, in whatcan beas anewarticulation, around seen wasdeveloping then is articulated in terms of their role in the events, focusing events, in the role their of terms in articulated is then were found of were tobeconceptlinked with the directly 27 identity , in whichwere , CEU eTD Collection a construct of the author of this work. inference and an inescapably below in are analysis presented the accounts mentioning the that understand them by opening awindow through mediasuch into Finally,discourses. itis worth however, it inAlbania, aim does, of expose political to discourses contemporary the certain a guidedpoint selectedhadtobemade, andwhile notit pretendtobe does acomplete results (seeconclusion). our from generalisations draw any cannot we Therefore non procedures. random to according andselected limited, is distribution chronological as well as distribution media their articles, of number understanding of the body. data in the themes main the discoursesidentify to achieve thatIworked with sensitisingto concepts which my guided analysis and helped me be analyzed,concepts employed, as well as the relationshipit that are believedalso to exist among them. isby validity attained the Thirdly,not. theoretical or conscious be andIn those concepts, words order contains certainTherefore, I relied limitations. as much basing the of meaning ontheconceptual framework of study.accounts of subject the as possiblemeans which validity in is interpretive it theSecondly, me. by language unofficially, although accurately, The of the people under translated quotations articles, with of original the direct my interpretations backing up study, i.e. their inhas tobe heraccurate facts. reporting The of by way is validity I ensureddescriptive There is obviously more to these opinion articles than the selected themes, but at a aclear provides whileselection process Furthermore, above-described the 28 CEU eTD Collection commentators and how they are situated in the accounts about political reality. Knowing how Knowing reality. political about accounts the in situated are they how and commentators media the for means community international the what by analysing start to important is it politics, indomestic plays community international of role the perception the on the based Considering construction the representations that media in of competing the Albanian the is theme. community international of the withinterpretation the start The analysis will Community 1. International game,including sovereignty. critique, which demands theinternational community not to violate democratic rules of the representation in togain their supportfor order reality of Albanian the of and that party; analternative butwhichproduces compliance, of that articles: anti-governmental distinguishable inthe international patterns aretwo are complyingauthority,with the there and (Galdini governmentDuma 26.01.2011). 26.01.2011 Shekulli with the exceptions presented in the Methodology chapter, whereas inchapter, Methodology the presented exceptions with the lines of pro- versus linesmedia. pro- of anti-government community. international tothe areconducted in politics leverage of way the domestic an power attribute extended media accounts in Therefore, Albania. is constituted reality way the central to political institutionsin thecountry. main The isthat claim perception is the of outsideworldthe people, the of subthemes the through explained identity of issues community; international the politicalIn Iwill chapter this present main my the of Thethemesdiscussed findings analysis. hereare violenceIV. Analysis and the elites; and the state of democracy and democratic There isThere of versus discourses, along arelatively anti-governmentpro- the pattern clear dhe Shqip are anti-government, although in although anti-government, are Mapo 29 and Shqip Panorama Whilediscussions pro-government we have two articles that are pro- articles that we havetwo are mostly pro-government, mostly are Gazeta Shqiptare Gazeta , CEU eTD Collection he towithdraw accepted his intention for a counter-demonstration weekafter one January 21. because statesman”, “a real who calledBerisha ambassador, of American the was that upon square and consensus for appealed and return to the institutions. Oneof mostthe commented inthe violence the whocondemned representatives international of the declarations first again threatened” (Ylli, Panorama 23.01.2011). future wasonce sayswho Friday “last European that: their author, even for apro-government Likewise,27.01.2011). membership EU isthreatened by demonstrations the of January 21, Shqip (Gumeni, isunacceptable” in be EU,this the accepted aspires to that country the middle of Europe, just because they expressed their anger in a demonstration, for a NATO formemberunacceptable a NATO candidate:in murdering and “but anaspiring EU someone Anotheras Europeans”political (Delia,Shqip murdersare onearguesthat 23.01.2011). arguing against violence and states that “we are not pretending toenter Africa, but Europe andauthor the account, anti-government one In conditionality. EU of in terms reputation Albanian affect will demonstration the how on concerns their express media anti-government and such engagements, NATO ortheas membership to aspiredmembership EU.Bothpro the to becauseinternational which Albaniansreport to havetheirentity of body to to or Januarythe theinternational21 demonstrations, is community mentioned, briefly either asan first after days international In the allies. partners, and andAmerica, our and US,Europe the EU Westerners, West, the diplomats, the community, international factor, international the well. as inAlbania, of state democracy identity and of themes ontherelated accounts theirunderstand media the helpus position community seesandinterprets the will international the of The discussion of the position of immediatelyThe of position proliferated discussion internationals the of the the after internationals, the as: dailies in Albanian to referred is community international The 30 CEU eTD Collection removal of Berisha from power: “it was articulated more clearly than ever internationally that internationally more clearly ever than “itwasarticulated from power: of removal Berisha support the not community theinternational does SP’sattempts, arguesthatdespite authors The government. the towards community international ofthe theattitude on and speculations misunderstandings some clarified Arvizu ambassador American the of declaration the him to According in of approve a change government. not does international community the sign that a as thediplomatic declarations interprets inarticle a different Thesame author 25.01.2011). praises it as “awesome, extra (super) exact, extra benevolent, extra professional”and (Zheji, Mapodiplomat the of declaration the analyses author the article one In writers. pro-government Panorama 23.01.2011). in by Union” European (Bajraktari, the supported community, international particular the buildingeven onfoot, hundreds new schools andof a developing hasbeen democracy that thousands of people, building roads, even in those areas where beforehiring it was impossible development, to economic golarge a scored has years five last the during Berisha, Sali Minister Prime of rule the under Albania that fact the to witness are us of “All : government of the performance overall to the support international the extends author the article, In one ODHIR’s internationals” Panorama(Cako, 27.01.2011;butalso in Marku, Mapo24.01.2011). by certified been have elections last “the ODHIR: as such bodies, their and community international by fact they that underlinethe the were confirmed authors government strengthen their account on the international support for the results of the last elections, pro- Toanymore”leadership Panorama 27.01.2011). socialist anactor consider the (Cako, as to divide the West in its position will not be successful. It seems like the internationals do not as founded, on the contrary, they ignore them. As one author put it: “It seems like the asattempt a sign that the international community does not consider the accusations of the opposition The subsequent declaration of the American ambassador was also cheered at by the at cheered wasalso American ambassador the of declaration The subsequent internationalmedia thefirstviolence against interpreted Pro-government declarations 31 CEU eTD Collection government media, in particular 3 learn politicalthe history of twenty years” last the (Toçi, his therefore 31.01.2011); Shekulli obviously hehasnot had learntime to of history the this andhascountry, henot had time to well-informednot aboutdomestic politics: “Mr. Arvizu has just arrived in Tirana, so is inarrived thecountry whohas just ambassador, American the arguesthat The same author accordingly: behaviour their adjust can they that so rhetoric international ambiguous the interpret to trying continuously are who politicians, the from in particular community, international the to opposition no is there that claims mortals: the with gods mythology Greek the of that with community international Albanian compares politiciansthe and Olympus”, between therelationship author community and the relationship local politicians have with them. Inan titledarticle “Weupset ’resignation’, doesnothave anyinternational (Zhejisupport” 29.01.2011). Mapo Berisha’s and Government the of fall the provoke to SP the of move political violent the We can consider Vehbiu’s article published at published article Vehbiu’s consider can We their internaltheir for powerwar (Toçi, Shekulli 31.01.2011). in were convenient that parts those anduse cite to parties both allowing parties, thus both been criticizingalthough to and haveoften ambiguous giving the right they Albanian politicians have been stretching toread properly years messagesfrom the abroad, 20 whole The politics. in global ones strong the to subduing by is will that “American the wrath”...Theyfrom arecareer conforming their to the international“endanger” they will, trying because to guess what biography their stain to want not internationals,the against go to wants even nobody lesssince so years againstbeen has it thecountry Americans.in our “Here In particular the politicians who do author the of diplomat”, ahigher “The hasty declaration in article titled an Similarly, 31.01.2011) Mapo (Vehbiu, similar conflict next the with we can continue that so referee, political communication freezes in momentousthe gridlock, weask them playto the authority.support our Any time legitimise and to actions, word to save our us, parent, apupil with the teacher, sometimes of a servant with a master. We call them to media, international find more criticism aboutthe In thewe anti-government We have established weird relations with them, like that of like a have with We of a child that them, established with weird relations 3 . Shekulli . Mapo an “outlier”. His articles are usually published in the anti- 32 CEU eTD Collection started continuously.started In context of the in uprisings the January of 2011 an Tunisia, author or held being are conflicts multiple where a world in faceof “stable” Albania for keeping off tyranny” (Shekulli 26.01.2011). livesAlbanians, arenotbeingof seeAlbania’s able it currentto reality:is that deep in and the money the Berisha ismaking with Sali that by concessions they economic blinded the holding on to a regime are French the or Italians that Americans, “the has country: the in thrown influence of equilibria themestablished a ‘bone’, for their businesses or maintain their their them to which encourage interests, economic actors’ international various the waste, so of result asthe by author, isthe explained, behaviour Their 28.01.2011). (Rrozhani,Shekulli fault” of the part has Community International the a crossroad, are at today people Albanian the “If crisis the to contribute actually internationals, as they, that away such in Albania rule. autocratic Justicemeans 31.01.2011). inthiscontext they aposition that take openly against Berisha’s This time the west have positions. to ‘impartial’ institutions hasis time the not western for “Itis deep that crisis so to be on the side heinin argues,the stability because However, theyhaveaninterest country. the preserving of justice Berisha, stop to intervening andnot are they that means him for truthwhich position, ‘impartial’ not stability” (Stefani, Shqip 31.01.2011). governance…”Shekulli, (Toçi current expressthe against theirof to path protest position time and situation like this, insteadinfluence in politicalthe developments of “Such country:the ina declaration anaggravated of calming will enrage appraisalmore those who haveof thechosen prime the minister in a press release is considered by the author as a negative Another reason introduced for the alleged biased attitude of of westisthatof biasedthe a trade- thealleged introduced for attitude reason Another in politics distorting of community international the accuses author another Similarly, maintaining an for community international accusesthe author the article, In another 33 CEU eTD Collection the internationals and simply applied by the local actors: inefficiency, is it long-term is only the can solution optimal by author the that propose given notattend to the international guidelines, the crisis cannotbe resolved. As a result do of Albanian actors local unless and intervene not does community international the unless that is claim inis tobeovercome. for His political impasse the intervention there aneedfororder more isineffective and non-real” (Krasniqi,Gazeta Shqiptare 29.01.2011). Therefore he argues that support it... What the internationals know, but do not accept yet, is that in Albania this option from community]having role an and in arerefraining active dialogue, butencourage the they [international now some time “For that states author One in politics. influences hascommunity distancekept the in Albanianpolitics,a whichhas hadposition negative unrest after the pyramidal schemes collapsed. After that he remained in opposition for eight years. eight for opposition in remained he that After collapsed. schemes pyramidal the after unrest 4 shortly before: in Albania and there Community International of the attitude the between acomparison draws The author is referring to the fact that Berisha was president in 1997, when the country went through the civil tranquillity and normality in Albania” (Krasniqi Shqiptare 29.01.2011).Gazeta of protection for the ones evenmilitary not, andwhy missions peace diplomatic again not do does this Brussels If practices. diplomatic the outside behave to of Brussels responsibility today, tomorrow isbecomesolutions, itis that exclusiveand pawn apolitics of without extreme, it is expect external insolutions, but not conditions currentthe in which has country the excludedUSA and EU rightfully solution... extra an thatprovide should negotiator it (EU) international willthink“the bethat obliged a NATO member to bring and a oncecandidate country to the EU should not Among arguingpress, anti-government the find wealso international authors the that years for several atpolitics theof andput person awayfrom periphery power was same thrown that the is crisis the of instigator the although people, the of will the against standard, a different are using community] international Albania,[the case they of 4 . (Rrozhani Shekulli 28.01.2011). While supporting the events in While can democracy so that Tunisia, events in supportingtriumph, the the 34 CEU eTD Collection the violation of sovereignty is not good, but for him the crisis is irresolvable that by admits itself: example, for author, One media. pro-government the in even is present order to stability (Krasniqi, Shqiptare Gazeta 29.01.2011). comparison afunctional for theAlbania democracy with urgentneeds of and democratic issues in minor are non-intervention, foreign or sovereignty on rhetoric such as the crisis will the sooner the happen, will be parties] between overcome negotiation [international this sooner “The order: and the country will needfor establishing urgent the comparedto issue asecondary becomes crisis, sovereignty go back to normality. Any alibis against (Shameti, Shqip29.01.2011). this, and it return clear from butstillpoisons, fromcastrated not necessaryour instinct” critical they did so toremove from this sovereignty only the excessive amount of poison and insanity, robbed Albania’s sovereignty during the last week, in the coming week will have to prove that violently having after who, internationals, the of field in the is ball “The consequences: commentsbehaviour internationals such of its on byquestioning theauthor article, the the the whathappened inAlbania during the civil unrest of 1997. with is resonance there acultural quote In this intervention. humanitarian international need will that conflict firean open to mightescalate it sodeepthat the crisis considers This author 26.01.2011). Mapo internationals”, the at return obligatory “The telling is also article the of title the (Çili, crisis” this overcome to in order at impartiality, and their competence allies, and friends international our trust and support strongly to ever, than more is time, It this. over weep to time not is it society, and life Albanian the for a regress which with into21 turned of January While events the apolitical is crisis.is that itthis clear gridlock, political Albanian in the returned strongly have internationals “The comparison in sovereignty of importance smaller relatively the of interpretation This In another anti-government media article, though, the author argues that in a state of of issue In address the one sovereignty. newspaperarticles few Very anti-government 35 CEU eTD Collection always at the border between in and out, Europe and non-Europe, West and East, modernity and West East, Europe non-Europe, and inbetween border andout, the always at Albania as a small and controversial country, describe which due commentators to itsmedia that see Ottoman will we below and analysis the socialistIn identity. legacyAlbanian is haveAlbaniansof seems perception to the about permeated mediacommentators the of Another theme that is central in my data2. Identity body is the issue of identity. The western stereotype and their unjustifiableintervention in local affairs through political and diplomatic pressure. of attitude internationalthe by community theirunderlining ambiguous statementsdiplomatic the criticise They thannational sovereignty. important more is anddemocratisation stability for in theneed impossible which conditions, current the isunder acceptable intervention foris otherssuch While forthis someexternal sovereignty. unacceptable, commentators of questioned forbut country’s the also partiality, asviolators notonly theirperceived is role their press anti-government the In events. current on interpretations their legitimise to community international the of rhetoric the use They practices. democratic of importantly mostbut andconsensus, of areincapable compromise actors political where domestic the context a political in day, the of saviour isthe community international the press government regularly:of same patterns civil unrest that derives not only anecessity as intervention theinternational articulating author weseethe article, In another from the current crisis, but also because he sees Albania fall into the Thus, international intervention is interpreted in two main ways. In the pro- the In ways. main two in interpreted is intervention international Thus, country, apparently crazy goes years”every 15 (Zheji Mapo, 25.01.2011). they butthey knowwhat helpalso don’t Mr.Arvizu,are doing!’So, old this us authority, and remove them from this spiral, and then forgive them because they know Ambassador: “Help Arvizu!And Iaskmyselfyou, us deeply and I represent, ashamed of Mr. what ‘Take into your hands the ‘democratic whip’ of the State Department 36 CEU eTD Collection page of inshame” implies secondthe quote also arecurring which pattern, seems inescapable. anotherAlbania page wrote inof Theshame its history” use (Shqip.23.01.2011). “another of “[t]oday, or of And (Hasimja, 22.01.2011) alotshame!” September shame: Panorama 1998. fear25 yesterday mixed feeling inhas had also feltafternoon of March a anddisgust 1997 or ageof the above Albanian “every like in comments embarrassment Thereisexpressed shame. arestillAlbanians imagined as “under development”. in in“we by tone of canbeexplainedpatterns aresavage power, which cowards” existing the Theself-accusatory (Delia Shqip23.01.2011). contrary,the cowards” becausewearesavage on ourselves, boast we as brave are we because not first, out them pull Albanians We resort. andbe “Weaponswould tragic the last cases savageis of violent image reproduced: the the andEurope asEuropeans” (Delia, Shqip23.01.2011). Africa,butpretending enter to because wearenot of Tunisia, by following example the lessons, “Letbutnot usdrawour in statement: following the beinterpreted understanding can eastern itsinideal, towards backwardpast, it toone suchasthe EUand other the which was subject empire an contradictory influences,aspired pushingit towards one present, asitexposedto remains or another, ambiguities Albanian society,of which areinherited from its in andpast perpetuated the i.e.reflects all This the statement Shqip 27.01.2011). between (Gumeni border empires” the the OttomanAlbania of ours has remained in the bordersempireinterpreted. between two worlds, Accordingas it has beenand all itsto life one at theauthor it Eastern“demonstrateddualities always falling in fatalitythe of repeating one’s own mistakes.previous in front andbecause of barbarism,and and civilisation dictatorship, and these democracy primitivism, Bloc.of the whole world A thatsimilar this Furthermore, the concept of identity is intertwined with that of of identity with reputation the and isthat of concept the intertwined Furthermore, Whileabove quotes in borderlineimageofAlbaniais the the in underlined, other The marginal and ambiguous position of Albania is seen in way the January 21 is 37 CEU eTD Collection but which does not and should not affect the reputation of a whole country: forispart of political employed Albanian purposes, community that the society. that are They better still,it seems they have become immune to it” (Zheji, Mapo 29.01.2011). AlbaniansAlbaniansdead in likevirus, newcentury… the the of avoided this Itseems or and Fortunately, suppositions. virus self-destruction was this noticed tobedeeply or dormant destruction,likein but in1997 nonetheless 1998.Bad thoughts, and legitimateomen thoughts Albanians virusthe that self- Albanianthe would again “it was thought of people: once get of characteristic longer a is no “barbarism” that image,by arguing that reject Some authors Shqiptare again 25.01.2011). Gazeta Albanians.”(Basha, of the is fault past.The bitter from our we takethem But examples. readymade these take We do because the examples of democracy are readymade all over Europe and the democratic world. butwe keepinventneedfuture, thinkingin …Albanians donot to new the past. histories, why Albanianthe produce political cannot class a progressive politics,avision towards the whetherAlbania followif models: can democratise understanddo not western “Ithey not do In isit 25.01.2011). samearticle,the Shqiptare alsoquestioned community Gazeta (Basha, international the as well as institutions, the and people Albanian the to behaviour violent between thecivil of protest,1997 and focusing currentunrest the Berisha’s on autocratic and entitled “Why inability Albaniais in of democratise similar understanding the presented to article of the do we repeat A years”Mapo 25.01.2011). crazy (Zheji,every 15 oldgoes Arvizu, country, this apparently our history?” Mr. us help “So, statement: following in the explicit more is determinism historical The in which the author draws on the similarities friends and countryfellows are expressing sadness and strong indignationfriends andare andstrong againstthe countryfellows expressing sadness media…Students, in andinternational appeared national conflict, the that barbarian act that street that reason no for and form or way any in justify not do today identity representative arenotthe protestors intoarguing “violent” of Others engage that the Albanian identity. of representation totransform this attempts are there Nevertheless, “Unanimously the Albanian citizens who respect their personal and national and personal their respect who citizens Albanian the “Unanimously 38 CEU eTD Collection politics, subject to it, or otherwise ignored. during communism every aspectof social life was politicised, to the point that the rest was conditioned by 5 full of society cleaning from our dictatorial the mentality and the primitive pseudo-intellectual the until but regime, monstrous and mafia this of fall the until only not continue SHOULD in 21 started January “The that battle action and representation: asamode of reproduces that machinery thewhole by destroying pattern of that transformation is ita radical mentality is maintained by the current patterns of power, and that the only way escapeto from backward the discourse, of In thistype government(Zaimi tyrant 24.01.2011). Shekulli to which the protest of the poor inshows mainstream media. We notice itin argument in the defence of protest,legitimate according a democratic spirit fighting isa state of under-represented immaturity to people political because it Albanian confines the for their rights against a all! Shqiptare 26.01.2011). leader!” Especially (Gazeta the inlegacy: firstplan the “Politics thecommunist in particular tendencies, authoritarian is its that demonstrating itis thegovernment Others arguethat 23.01.2011). Albania:Friday future “last was their European once again threatened” (Ylli, Panorama is the opposition with its that methods is continuously threatening the future” “European of it that argue media Pro-government “civilisation”. implied the and democratisation Albania’s negatively is affecting who on explanation the around revolves discussion The debate. This was an expression used by Enver Hoxha, and it means “Politics first”. What the author means is that Again the counter-hegemonic discourse that rejects thestereotype that rejects asmisguided discourse Again counter-hegemonic the anti-government versus pro- the of ispart identity even themes, other the to Similarly building ademocratic society” Shqip (Duma to 26.01.2011). forward looking are we which in way the or will the nor society, Albanian the Those individualsignited that andkeptalivename, aconflict notrepresent without do society not representin our anymore. boulevard happened What does Tirana’s the isbecausenot identifying Albanian society itself the eventsatanymoment. with these Nobodyconflict… can say thisthat Albanian society deserves this type of politics, injusticebeing seal of becausethe of againwith once signed political the of primitivity 39 5 ! The Party ! TheParty above CEU eTD Collection understanding asa singleindivisiblelong entity, entity a asurviving throughout history of samethe side. use inclusive form the in “we”, collective the of which belong people and the to speaker/s the they that do to order In position. their strengthen to in order recruit to need they which group, to be and what they are nowadays. Furthermore, both parties perceive of the people as a target used people the what between tension the due to have arisen that the ambiguities of example another are representations competing two These performance. government’s on disproval whereas in the anti-governmentmedia, the people were protesting in the street to express their protest, the from themselves media, peopledistanced the In pro-government the prominent. has become theme the of people the discourse political contemporary Albanian In the 2.1 People rhetoric international of state-building (Chandler 2010). intervention,needs new backward underthe Albania depicting external de-politicising a that in vested is interest whose community, international the for also but elites, local the for only not semi-insiders as serve they country, inthe agencies foreign andother organisations international by the was employed that section society of come that from commentators fordonors lastthe twenty Consideringyears 2002). that several (Pandolfi the of and superiors their have to beenreporting who foreign representatives andother organisations morenineties, by significantly long and lineof international official the reports a of in early the media bywestern re-introduced and century, nineteenth the of writers western Shekulli 24.01.2011). thataredestroying society” of and (Prifti, methods values moral our the and anti-democratic The Albanian conceptualisation The Albanian wasinheritedof people initsthe conceptualisation Romantic is by This type a of initiated stereotypereproduction essentialistrepresentation the of 40 CEU eTD Collection 24.01.2011); “anarchists24.01.2011); with ‘sucked brains’, which look for… heroes andmartyrs in the who“guerrilla”were employed groups disrupt bytheopposition order (MarkuMapo to not. or massof protestors theywereaconscious andwhether people the andpart of representing the de-legitimise or eventslegitimise of to January discourses 21,the one among of thesense, debates this In in the attributes. media was whetherconnotational the protestors were really Albanians state what to languagetries the visible discourses areconstructed: waylocal the through are not or is discourse western impact of the apositiveencourage one. The are trying to stereotype, while not anymore,negative the from we separate collective the to is an attempt There above. already explained rather than describeday politics. themlegacycommunist and areflection massof politics party and populist discourses of present with specific governmentthe (Spiropali, We they 21.01.2011). both partargue that Panorama can are of the against argue who those particular in positive people, the of behalf on mostly speaking commentators the of that still is observable trend major the why explains which now, until communism traditional eradicate despite very limited individual distinctions, mobility” (Hall 1994: 28-9). overcome loyalties,regional in and to long-held andto local regional groups…, order between andintermigration different they“aimedtheirintermarriage atencouraging purposes, embed the socialist regime intothe web of legitimacy and wider public acceptance. Tofurther to by inits“albanianness”. communist attempt wasadopted elite Thesame discourse the National when Revival elites glorified picaresque andauthentic the asgenuine invasions, attempts toassimilation, conversion religious and genocide, reinforced throughout The pro-government media describes protestors as part of non-representative aspart of media protestors describes The pro-government “savage” of image the come from the that some tensions weobserve Nonetheless, A similar peopleof understanding hasbeendominatingthe the fall evenafter of 41 CEU eTD Collection Panorama 29.01.2011). (Ballauri, act” to incapable people make the these all of them, for perspectives corrupt lackconscience and the tradition, of modelspolitical thatcould real open andnon-clear thecivic lack of the andorganisation, association of tradition the lack of leader, the the is feelinferiority but of complex sadthe more theleadership, they against that the than part in we readthat: article example, one For Rama, Sh.27.01.2011;23.01.2011; Shqiptare 29.01.2011). Gazeta Ballauri, Panorama Shqiptare (HasimjaKrasniqi23.01.2011; Panorama 22.01.2011; Gazeta Delia, Shqip of opposition, dangerous the or political potentially and governmentthe either of leaders, vulnerable manipulationincapable and from makes of understanding, them their which to ignorant complex, inferiority an with time same the at and suffering, and angry traumatised, classes. lower and the elites the between factor astability serve as would that intermediary, social and political the as conceived is class middle the context, this between them making social life more possible and functional” (Duma Shqip In 26.01.2011). functions communication the plays and higherone the to class lowerfrom the message the big lack visible clearly is itof time first the “for the read: we article in one So, middleclass. middle is the alternative class as a very important individualsand the proposed society, between restof make the thethese and distinction clear factorto attempt an is there will, political no with of class low as the protestors the defining By society. social lift, that takes the Mapo 27.01.2011). cannot convince opposition “the stated explicitly is sometimes that intention anyonean protest, the delegitimizing to believe that the paidindividuals” Panorama By (Cako they 27.01.2011). protestors, at the denigrating aim demonstration was a name of political the of a singleego popular person”(BrahajPanorama“militants 24.01.2011); or or rebellion” (Marku “Until had people today, the timehave not understand towhatis done in name: their expecting, mute, as people the define that articles several opinion There are The pro-government rhetoric proposes a new element: the stratification of Albanian 42 CEU eTD Collection and its institutions. When representation does not function,government the of theside people the on will witness speak they by exclusion the to and conditions these to reaction will of a particular leader, but a demonstration of the people’s realisation of their conditions, a tothe a meremindless response not is in streets the protesting thatpeople argues The author people:the constantly Shekullion TV (Koloreto, 23.01.2011). between the poor and their a reaction of gap “the peripheries”, isof the ever widening the protest attack the considered miserable life Therefore, 28.01.2011). Rrozhani Shqiptare 28.01.2011; Gazeta Shekulli Kabo, 26.01.2011; and the elites and theirZaimi, Shekulli Gjongecaj,24.01.2011; GazetaShqiptare 25.01.2011; Kajsiu, Panorama spectacular life ignored(Shameti,they Koloreto Shekulliare constantly Shqip 22.01.2011; 23.01.2011; promoted elite) have been policies,excluded from state marginalised at put and periphery, the where distance themselves from the political parties, and give them the “silent treatment.” polarisation,forward they the“anti-politicsput thesis”, which accordingpeople to should political the of illustration an as protest the defining by Consequently, compliance. into masses the manipulate would leader charismatic the in which legacy, socialist the particular isin previous the of history there to country, aclearreference the Panorama 29.01.2011), 24.01.2011). Shekulli (Zaimi events” yesterday’s to legitimacy gives that hopeless the of crowd a itissubclass, starving like.individuals, anddirty you But them call this exactly as proles, plebeians, say: you what really were … bullets the and batons rubber spokespeople. Yes gentlemen, most of the people governmentmerepresentativeshypothesis tothe and their Let confirm this that confronted with their bodies the whose breath smellsafraid likealcohol, andimprisoned whoarenot being of etc… dressed, badly are classes,that social from lowest comethe that individuals education, who individuals, been wretched some have hadin there show crowd is the that to “Their goal come becauseas pertainingprotest vindicateto theto right frame,to Withinsee an attempt we this the SP had promised them a job, individuals without In the anti-government rhetoric, the people (with the exception of a core clientelist Ballauri, Shqiptare exampleIn some (for Sh. 27.01.2011; Gazeta articles Rama, 43 CEU eTD Collection aggressive, destructive, threatening, defamatory, blackmailing, up to murderous” (Lili,murderous” upto blackmailing, defamatory, threatening, aggressive, destructive, is discourse hate,whose ofpolitical language “the andaggressive: increasingly offensive methodthe of annihilationthe of other”the (Lili, Panorama 24.01.2011). for which chosen have they astheiryears sole objective, have hadpower of lasttwenty these factors and actors political general “In way: in this elites political between power of dynamics One the describes author 25.01.2011). Panorama people (Lubonja, sacrificing innocent andforPanorama they 28.01.2011), that even 22.01.2011; Misha, Mapo are capable of (Hasimja, strongest is the who show to try actors which in show a deformed become verbal and violence indicators physical as of fragile the Albanian whichhas democracy violence. of legitimacy the and violence of origin the points: main two around revolves discussion issues identity, the linked of Directly to interpretation event. the of media mainstream the in prominent very is which physically, and verbally both politics, Albanian of attribute an as behaviour violent stereotype of matches with the in Thisoccurrence fourescalated casualties. property that violence of to wasoutburst there an is factthat the inAlbania forces political the between clashes and protests other from 21 January of event the distinguishes What 2.2 PoliticalViolence face their (Zaimi weapons” Shekulli 24.01.2011). power, if youif suppress, you steal,if you kill and ifyou taunt hopeless,the you then will blade reaches the when only unfortunately, Although, fight. and protest the to how know still Albanians bone.that Let this lessonthemselves: “what happened in January 21 in value, haspedagogical Tirana asit teaches all be learned by all of those who pretend to come to We understand that there is a concern with the language of politics, which has become has which politics, of language the with is aconcern there that We understand Violence isused asanindex democratisationof the in Albania.Some authorsexplain 44 CEU eTD Collection political formations of the left, from that of Noli up to the left of fromhas left left,political uptothe Hoxha, of formations of that which Enver of Noli the left: “Perhapsitis instinct exactly has violent this that traditionally characterised Albanian the Albanian in the inherent historically been has instinct violent the that isclaimed it comments, and In leaderits violent (Çili,political and type theirdiscourse” this Mapo22.01.2011). of confirmedinspiredby “violence dayafter: wasobviously the rhetoric the opposition the of A was then Mapo 21.01.2011). violence” version control and (Marku, that degradeto get of out to is foreseen party threatening the according to which demonstration, massive bombarding public opinion with inthreatening declarations, which is there an forappeal havebeen leadersof Albanianopposition these “[d]uring days the cause violence: the opposition for it. Some commentators foretold that Edi Rama’s aggressive rhetoric would state our and life our (Ylli, Panorama 23.01.2011) we could institutions,is includingit that police, argues that the preserve state the becauseof an organised attack. formedia from defending legitimate theinstitutions reaction justify pro-government as police One of themThe it. for in blame they who and it an interpret they how is article differ they what media, government titled “Thanks to the state that did not practices. institutional democratic and of democratisation clearor the fall” absence threat a situationand the to uncertainty “natural”of reaction political a violence isconsidered citizen one, inthesecond whereas institutions, of andprotection order of interms justified violence is first state one, tothe According interpretations. competing We two observe on issues whileeach-other partisan interest, ofnational lines. cleavagesthrough encouraging situation of conflict. By turningPanoramaSuch language 24.01.2011). isjudged beintentionallyto an of provocative ongoing it into a pattern, it is then difficult for parties to agree with At the same time, they argue against the violence of At samethe andof argueagainst time, violence they demonstrators the the blamethe pro- and anti-government both by is discussed violence of use intentional The 45 CEU eTD Collection condemns it as a criminal act, where the anti-government considers it as a political as apolitical it considers act. it wheretheanti-government as acriminal act, condemns in and eventually and a state violence. of themselves nature present use instrument of violence againstinfringes (Zaimi, the social If contract” Shekulli 24.01.2011). tyrant the uses law as itsan people, routinely thenthat tyrant a against therevolt revolt, for people people the of right the of out born will was Friday appeal to their right to revolt as a“genuine thedemonstration of describes and“theviolence of expression democracy” them of One power. in those with interacting of means other no have who and politics, elite by are marginalised of that those instrument will, an of democratic isanexpression violence way itcan be (Stefani democratic” 24.01.2011). Shqip blood of unarmed demonstrators can be tsarist, bonapartist, communist, fascist, but there is no “agovernment the sheds that Furthermore, cultivatingitall” Shekulli 24.01.2011). (Fshazi, speak hehasbeen because of not “he in inflicted violence, should been has country: the that violence himthe explicitly attributes author one minister prime the Referring to state. the Panorama (Nazarko 24.01.2011). property” violence onexercised burnedand reason destroyed, any withoutserious who protestors, of the apart over the police, control political of lack its in failed opposition the killed, were people three when moment private parkedmanipulate“until by thepublicopinion: the to opposition the itthat was ascheme organised vehicles,there was no substantial on a reasonpart for a violentof reactionstate on the leader of anarchisttypethe side suchasRama” (Marku,Mapo21.01.2011). and of the privatelyprotestors, implying a fall of communism, the of years after SP,twenty the headof becoming the made possible owned There are two competing interpretations of violence. The pro-government one pro-government violence. The of interpretations competing There aretwo Very few (Shameti,Shqip Zaimi, 22.01.2011; political arguethat Shekulli 24.01.2011) reaction of that and condemns medialegitimises the protestors’ The anti-government The most disturbing are accounts ones in pro-government the arguethat which authors 46 CEU eTD Collection Shqip 24.01.2011). as he 26.01.2011), puts himself “above thelawlife freedom, violating (Stefani, and property” “tyrant” (Zaimi, while 24.01.2011), Shekulli hisregime (Blushi, “Salistan” Shqiptare Gazeta and toasan(Rrozhani, Berisha;heis a “autocrat” autocratic personality 28.01.2011) referred Berisha’s about comments more are there Still, parliament. Albanian the and minister prime (Aliu, ShekulliAs we 29.01.2011). insanitycan see, is attributed tothe whole office of the Parliament” the and Minister Prime the of office the are today Albania in hospitals psychiatric Unfortunately, the patientis notin thehospital, but in the Prime Minister’s office. The largest Aliu, Shekulli Forexample,in29.10.2011). one we article isread: “Albania led byapatient. Shqiptareinsanity Dhima, 30.01.2011; Shqiptare,27.01.2011;L. Gazeta Gazeta (e.g. Rama, itisthat difficultto advice is thatthem, acharacteristic foundin many autocrats. depicted as authoritarian and keen on personalizing power. In more than one article itis stated control, butthey wholeaddress the population forlegitimizing their Butthey position. are under group havethe their own governmentthe andleaders’ opposition Both personalities. a considerableindividual is given to role also the of power, from patterns perceived the Apart ones thatcontrol in2.1). the manipulation on people (seediscussion subsection the atbut same the Toçi, 31.01.2011); they Shekulli time community (see e.g. international are leaders position the standin anti-governmentto the against press political a subordinate According manipulative. and clientelist exclusive, as considered are elites the seethat we can above, many the From of the elites. references with that isintertwined people of The concept 2.3 Elites/leaders Albanian society are alsodivided along proversus the interpretations.anti-government have on will it given repercussions andthe weare on origins accounts the Therefore, In the anti-government discourse, some authors make reference to Berisha’s alleged Berisha’s to makereference some authors discourse, anti-government In the 47 CEU eTD Collection methods that are destroying the moral andvalues of society”our (Prifti, Shekulli 24.01.2011). from dictatorialthe mentality and the primitive pseudo-intellectual and anti-democratic society our of cleaning full the until but regime, monstrous and mafia this of fall the until only not started in continue “The 21 SHOULD declares:that January battle author one example, violence isjustifiable (Kajsiu, Panorama 26.01.2011and Zaimi,Shekulli For 24.01.2011). whichpolitical for democratic regime, more for a they people argue Taking sideof the the this point, struggling at actors, aspolitical elites asthe as well people the at look and process, democratisation the for a variant of the political regime thatexample Lubonja, Panorama, 25.01.2011). would best fit theirculture of violence, immorality interests. ... corruption,illegality that they encourage in the society” (for forRama, not They only individuals, whatthey represent... butas are representatives of the strongly ... to cast but peacefully themdemonstrate to streets the inwouldmovement people that a take birth to out... We have to expelexclusive power-holding consequently, and itis defend asproperty: “It gave Albania time political leadersto as coming government still consider that leaders and autocratic tendencies of authoritarian like Sali Berisha argue foris then their from to used Albanian removal becausepolitics andare representatives they Edi BecauseindividualpersonalitiesMarku, Mapo24.01.2011). and (e.g. theirof responsibilities some criminalsof that into people Albanian the of eyes in the thatsocialists the of image the changed has attackFriday the state.... In forces,terroristhas Edi given Rama the ingratitudean towards citizens...political example of that sense Rama has cost So, we actions aregoingcommittedwhose leader, SPalot.the to read: “Bymobilisingdestructive political suicide” The proponents of the alternative discourse address the issue from the perspective of issuefrom perspective the addressthe discourse of alternative the The proponents self-be and to anaggressive appears press Rama Whereas inthe pro-government 48 CEU eTD Collection democratic”. So, they define the protest as an institutions to violently attack attempt andan theprotest they to democratic”. So, define of a right topossibility the admitting dimly while others whereas ofopposition, theacts of protestcondemnation in their explicit more are stillSome actions. its and government existing the legitimise condemn thePanoramaUnder(Cako such 27.01.2011). readercould the rhetoric, attempts seethe to very act of a dictatorship,claimsfunctional is“Albania although notbuta a fragiledemocracy, that one” demonstrating of them So, one be encouraged. shouldnot soit, they to athreat are nevertheless democracy, or protestingless functional,but jeopardised by likeevents thedemonstration, which although of a feature as “non- favour. intheir them transform to tries one anti-government the while constructmedia their Pro-government own. toreproducetheexisting tries patterns of power, Albania. Such popular protest. ambiguities are verymuchpresentin international the about reporting Parties,is left the only action therefore, inAlbania;democratic democracy institutions and democratic according is by isargue that who presented community. there authors no counter-interpretation The to theirinternational by the perpetuated discourse state-building the reflects which building, interests issuecapacity of problem as the an administrative articulate They setting constitution. and use ina democratic foreseen means certain related other the all and system, justice the parliament, the elements suchastheelections, institutions, and means conflictsinand democratic through clashes or of demonstrationthe of January itsarguefor21. Hence supporters thechannelling political of these accountspresents Albaniaan whichhas a still functioning democracy, despite theled problems that to to state of in Albanianaffairs politics. interpretation contemporary The pro-governmental maininterpretations of the aretwo there January evidenced that analysis events21. The of The topic of democracy and democratic institutions is in ubiquitous articlesthe following the institutions state and 3. Democracy Thus we see that pro-government authors arguethatmoreThus is seeauthors thatpro-government or Albaniandemocracy we 49 CEU eTD Collection elections in the country.” In other words, “broad compromise, for the re-integration of the of re-integration the for compromise, “broad words, other In country.” in the elections free guaranteeof and honest the important: from reformation most starting the of country, the demonstrations and encouraging dialogue, so that “it gives way to political reconciliation, the by discouraging type that of discourse reproduce like above the writers government like: readstatements we Hence, society. Albanian the as negative protest describe it allegedly democracy, for fragile because the of balance destroys community. international and common people the oppositionhis followersfind isnon-democratic, and not and assuch will of support the the abovelater infers,quote ontheauthorstates and leader explicitly, of the behaviour of the life.makes Asthe have adecent foundationvery andallows peoplethem citizens to what of the state, the means attacking it attacking that argues author the state, of the representation citizen”a By (Brahaj, of minister 24.01.2011). theand prime office the defining Panorama whichwithout you remain atribe, asnobbish individual youand a statesman arenot a and theState, of is an office thePrime Minister of office the citizen, common other forand every me “For be primordial: by to them isconsidered an which action state, the means attacking (MarkuMapo24.01.2011). establishment” institutions ofanew violent eradication the and“a creation revoltaimingof the at it: put writer normality,as one against attack andanattempted inpower, those overthrowing Drawing from from Drawing statements of the community international pro- the violence, against Mapo 22.01.2011). (Çili us govern who those peacefully and freely elect can we which in peacefully, is changed government) (i.e. in which power asociety freesociety, a society, have astabilised be neverto we will able because this way Albanian democracy, in the installed asprecedents not are demonstrations these of types is that important It they as unacceptable,so government to media attack the considers Pro-government institutions adjunct the or government the attacking authors, pro-government For punished... and severely be… should discouraged like ...demonstrations that 50 CEU eTD Collection therefore a new deal must be made. This type of argument reflects once again language of again reflects once the anewdealmust bemade. of type therefore argument This strong anymore,is not government of the position hascaused the crises controversy the of because the but truths”, as “one of the are considered opposition the of claims the because is26.01.2011). The ambiguous proposal democracy”have toour that (Çili, Mapo occurred solve crises, way continuous order to infundamental anewandbetter and those the problems in consensus needforinstitutions: a new “the and abroad up to Constitution a newRepublic, of existing employment the the bethrough haswhich done to contract, a newsocial the escalation of the conflict, in order to build a wide popular trust, they articulate the need for butbecause of Panorama 27.01.2011); law”namely (Cako, constitutional the political game, that stressing otherone and the ... Albania’s democracy... oneemphasizing normality of Mapo thealleged 26.01.2011), two opposing (Çili truths with areconfronted now so they (people) has people, divided political polarisation told that of political reality the trust in institutions is not share by the whole societydialogue andcompromise in democracy. nameof the preserving anymore. We are for appeal alsoexplains the done January 21, which on protest butnotof typethe of protest, Such framingcountry” of issuethe Mapo (Çili 22.01.2011). acceptthe ideaseems to of the of life institutional whole in the but elections, the in only not system, the in opposition The pro-government interpretation is that “the opposition violated the rules of the of rules the violated opposition “the that is interpretation pro-government The concretely the way in which elections are carried out in the country. opposition, rightfully or not, has with regard to the political system, or more institutions independent equilibrium the andthepower between and of government. the media the of balance the Parliament, in the MPs opposition 65 of presence the by as aresult argue representation that of opposition’s authors the Some pro-government There is a climate of mistrust pending in the Albanian society that the legal the that society Albanian in the pending mistrust of climate is a There expressed equilibrium, social and political stable a with democracy a normal 51 CEU eTD Collection discontent but to react as they did (Zaimi, Shekulli 24.01.2011; Gumeni, Shqip 27.01.2011). as they 24.01.2011;Gumeni,Shqip to react butdiscontent (Zaimi,did Shekulli their expressing of means other no have who representation, and voice without those inof country the of democracy state the with dissatisfaction extreme of the expression is an and people’s violence itselfArguing protest that as andrecogniseconstitute itself constituted. can politic body setting the where contract in street a pre-social the square or such as the newintoback the in, institutions abringing arguefor politics democratically others anymore, Shqip 24.01.2011). (Stefani in street the loci political the of of transferral sign asa is explained government the by Likewise,to organise attemptthe anti-meetings 26.01.2011). mean,Shqip war”(Nurellari extinguished, orboycotted,itblocked, thennot continues sabotaged with is politics other the withindone are because the institutions occur not and politics the institutions, isnot does itself.“if argues institutions istheprotest For example,that malfunctioning author the of one general attorney and the government itself. as interpreted a resultinstitutions, malfunctioningof the state of suchas election,the the in of interwoven of areinstitutions Theevent January their independence of is the articles. 21 inrights, thatof institutions;assembly and of functionalitythe particular protest; andthatof function becausethey institutions donot thelack The independence. of theme necessary criticism andwhere opposes violently government the a Albania where place as describe democracy counter-theme: are institutions and democratic notfunctioning in Albania. of forwardthe supporters by claim the intoaccount the exclusion put without taking of sustains institutions existing the as way onlylegitimate the of conducting politicsin Albania, forced compromise and consensus pushed by forward international the butwhichcommunity, While these authors stop at stating that Albanian institutions are not functioning institutions arenot Albanian stating at that stop authors While these According to this representation of Albanian reality,is The voicesin governmentthere argue againstthe that nodemocracy Albania. They the first evidence of the 52 CEU eTD Collection credibility is ruined. To gain some faith in theinstitutions, the government would have stepto authorities, eventhe government’s damaged, deliver theguardsto by the and refusing hasseverely been judiciary of independence the andof politics credibility of the result, Berisha’sgovernment, inlimit to particular, its (Stefani mandate As 24.01.2011). Shqip a justice has system, which always beenanyways, threatened by attempts the of the inisAlbanian no the that trust there mediacommentators to the according shows intervention but external wasaneedfor fact thatthere 28.01.2011), thevery Shqiptare, Gazeta (Kabo, specialists mightcome adifferentbutconclusion, upwith thirddefinitive alternative” a American the of assistance the based on expertise legalmedical the “Tomorrow judgement: weremeant of impartial Theseexternalto provide experts an government. guarantee investigate of events the by January which wasto international 21, supported experts the from majority”protected Furthermore,the (Minxhozi,27.01.2011). there is Mapo acallfor institutions“independentAmerican under wereonceagain ‘armpit’ in tobe the taken order inFor example, weread: article one 24.01.2011). Shqiptare Kreka27.01.2011; Gazeta finally call in guardsinvolvedthe in shootingthe (Stefani 24.01.2011; Shqip Gumeni Shqip to able was GP the that ambassador, American the namely community, international the were enough putto the justice system in the gridlock, and it was only under the supervision of wasbiased Prosecutor General thatthe minister prime the of accusation the accounts media reason democraticwhy institutions arenot anti-government andAccordingfunctional. to Shqiptare 24.01.2011). (Kreka, Gazeta law and theoccasionallyintentionally” Constitution and uponorder violated are respected or in the state welive the is in where and which Albania collapsed an autocracy, Republic has “democracybeen hasin killed GazetaJanuary Shqiptare, 21” (Kabo 28.01.2011); “the that declaredemocracy.Authors that is protestto consideredan assault to rightViolating the The whole behaviour of the government is brought to the attention of the reader as the as reader the of attention the to brought is government the of behaviour whole The 53 CEU eTD Collection the separation of powers and the relation between citizens and institutions. There are afew are There institutions. and citizens between andthe relation powers of separation the functioninferred be ofthe institutions, building the discussion can extended the on through a stateonly paper” (Kajsiuon Panorama 26.01.2011). as operates infact which state, with a paper “we aredealing that reader show the author to the according factors threeinterconnected These amajor social polarisation. society and produces the of out state the puts development of model the because finally and shallow, governance the making therefore ingeneral society the not and beneficiary major the are clients the that means organisation such author), the by used term is the (clientocratic manner clientelist three combined reasons why the Albanian state is allegedly fragile: it is organised in a but the rules are not applied, thus they remain true only on paper. on only true remain they thus applied, not are rules the but game and it also refers to the fact that there is adetailed account of how the state should be legalin documents, 6 27.01.2011). Shekulli (Baze for governance” robbery and heroism for sell to us crime wants Berisha “Sali people: accuses of the minister deluding prime author the of in One affairs country. the malfunctioning,lack of institutional autonomy transparencyand has caused the current state institutional capture aspersonalisation of state power, define press government 27.01.2011,RamaShqiptare Dhima, 28.01.2011; Sh. Shqiptare Gazeta 30.01.2011). The anti- RamaL. Gazeta Shekulli 24.01.2011; anddefenceless(Nano, described asutterly exposed are in accounts these The citizens Guard. National the or institutions thepolice such as other presented as functioningnot independently, government andas making the personaluseof the solution can come onlyfrom Prosecution”the (Gjoni 26.01.2011). Panorama “the that states explicitly its independently. author One job do Prosecution aside andletthe From the article we can infer that it means the state has very weak foundations. At the same time it is a word a is it time same At the foundations. weak very has state the it means that infer wecan article the From In most of the above articles, the issue of the democratic state-formation and state- and state-formation democratic of the issue the articles, above In most of the These views are synthesised in an article titled “Paper State titled in article an views aresynthesised These are Institutions of state-capture. is that media describe anti-government The regime 54 6 ”. The reader is given ”. The reader CEU eTD Collection preventive actions andcapacity (Chandler2011). building a languageinto itturns sovereignty, of but state violating and as negative intervention longerconsiders which no adiscourse values and democraticpractices; finally adopt from be assisted outside by helpingbuild/gain peopleandstates to thecapacities/resilience can state-formation in which state-building, andexternal building capacity of rhetoric liberal western post- ongoing 2000 and support thelate1990searly seem to so ademocratic state deterministic approaches tothe failuresunderstanding of ofAlbanians tohave and astate less The valuesinherent democratichistorical questioning along of and goals with the inability Albaniansform of have to and (Basha, state their 25.01.2011). GazetaShqiptare own the trend,whichperhapsisconnectedto isa state-formation the crisis repeated suggests that A 25.01.2011). Shqiptare third one Gazeta (Gjongecaj, of state existence the very threaten the that crises to lead can corruption how of explanation lengthy in a engages He state-formation. of corruption as a fatality whichspeaks for anew author constitution,earlier asapotential Another already, argued solution. is leading to the definitive issue formation. of was quoted Çili the explicitlystate address who of examples that authors loss of the will for (democratic) 55 CEU eTD Collection insiders reproduce and/or transform the existing patterns of behaviour. Media commentators of transform and/or patterns existing the reproduce insiders themedia,people manyinfluences, including semi-to which are exposed that of as the they control part of the electorate and use them to furtherconfirm political not or elites. Local operate elites within theirintheir influence, domain of which political objectives,and monitor control, while they where from the top, the at community international the put power Thus, theis acceptedfactor. confirmation legitimating patterns takenasthe of support or whose actors, of external judgement perceived tothe are subject political personalities todo. local the elites andexpect they what is saying international community what the of differ interpretation in accounts their However, iscommunity constitutive in constructing andvalidating politicalin action the country. gain publicmediagovernmentfor creating asdevices conflicting assumptions inattemptand beliefs to an support. andby anti- areusedpro- the competing representations Albania. These contemporary Theredemocracy is Albanian Themespolitics. like international the identity community, and thean state of overallin the of it future implications andhave onthe will the political actors behaviour various the of countryperception and the interpretation on event, the governmentrhetoric, accounts whichpresentopposing are anti- andan is apro-government There accounts. in media the is reflected polarisation a thatreflection thefive daily newspapers, discussing the demonstrations roleof January 21, 2001, shows that political in published articles in opinion articulated themes the of analysis An ofAlbania. in ofdiscourses thethe internationalpolitical In this study media toopen we tried a window through contemporary intoprint political polarisationV. Conclusion that exists in The picture we see from the media accounts is that events, political action action and political events, is that accounts wesee media from the The picture 56 CEU eTD Collection do not know how successful they we however, legitimacy; for are competing representations these that us tell articles opinion are, in the sense of whether oneperception of politicalrealitythe in the country. persuasive rhetoric The underlying the of them dominates in the somehow, there is no waynonetheless become theirspokespeople. Consequently, mightalthough they it reflect we can elites, know political the to connections how their of because who, constitutivesemi-insiders, the of perspective the from reality they political the of interpretation an are provide They Albania. in of uncertainty political the broader society’s system. legitimate of a establishment the andconsequently politics, democratic and legitimate a of development the and anomalies current of correction for allow finally would authority of position the from community international the of removal The society. thecurrentpatterns they political inAlbanian action, the of ask for of transformation power as andof of protest concept Through the articulation asconstitutive the people changed. the to a political led has gridlock controversy political where context ina stability thatforcing is intervention cannotinternational be resolved, unless the rules of the political game are notcontinuity. Therefore theyopposition’s to overthrow asanattempt fragilethe demonstrations society. balanceof the appeal for in on but fragile and interpret the neverthelessdiscourse Albania democracy functional compromise institution. the international move legal Theyreproduce of state a functioning and legitimate and a was consensus demonstrations the during intervention police the that and community international as a way to preserve of the localstability elites. that and community international the of both discourse andthe of influences to the subject are also Media discourses cast a light on some of the themes that constitute the continuous the constitute that themes the some of on light a cast discourses Media The interpretationanti-government press is not Albaniaisthat ademocracy. The press claimsThe pro-governmenthas of government the support the that 57 CEU eTD Collection ourselves. understand more political reality and we willbeable to all,windows weopen, morethe have one anotherinan to bigger complex of the attempt picture Afterpolitics. aglimpseat Finally, acomparativestudy mightall of these help putthem discourses in us perspective to contexts. inparticular political processes of understanding our extensively to contribute challenging,understandhow they Albanian understand Although, political reality.methodologically more an attempt depth analysis internationalthe of community reporting on Albania would alsohelp us to analyzeLikewise,an in-is constructed. see howthat and controversy originpolitical observethe of popular in to order forms communication of public other and leaders’speeches such aspolitical representations themselves, actors political of discourses of the analysis focusthe on research could Future of theinterconnected. are media representations these which with entities three other of the accounts political the of think usto encourage They a whole. as process political the and various actors role of reality would widerthe public opinion. gain of to support in the constructed order are competinghow representations andarticulated is political how controversy understand and atlook media political the discourses able to analysis wewere discourse through Furthermore, inAlbania. discourses media mainstream the of isit representative quite that assume wecan larger one, out of a down narrowed sample, was it which was asaturated that considering of period ten days. Nevertheless, half votes. the have parties received of both elections in last the that base fact on the wecanalso An assumption media accounts. is inas therethe mightWe bemuch population the there among can as public opinion. controversy that guess However, the findings of this study refer only to the media accounts on the event, the event, the on accounts media the to only refer study this of findings the However, atime covering 50 articles, of interpretation detailed on the focused was The analysis 58 CEU eTD Collection Edelman, Murray. 1985. Elsie, Robert (trs). 1913 - The Conference of 1913-TheConferenceLondon. in Elsie, of Robert(trs). Edelman, Murray. 1988. Doob, LeonardW. 1966. Donati, PaoloR.Political Discourse Analysis.inDiani, Marioand Ron (eds). 1992. Eyerman Denzin, K. Norman AndYvonna S.Lincoln(eds). 2005. Crespi, 1997. Irving. Connolly, William E. 1983. Foster, Steven.Foster, 2010. Collins, Randall.1994. Charmaz, K.Kathy.Lincoln. Theory.Denzin, Norman YvonnaS. and 2003.Grounded In Blumer, Herbert. 1977. Comment on Lewis “The Classic American Pragmatists as Pragmatists American Classic “The Lewis on Comment 1977. Herbert. Blumer, is 1954.WhatSocial Wrong with Theory? Blumer,Herbert. Fairclough, Norman. 1992. Chandler, David.2006. Bowen, Glenn. A.2006.Gounded Theory and Sensitizing Concepts. Blaikie, Norman. 2000. Billig, Michael. 1991. Chandler, David. 2010. Calhoun,Craig,Joseph Gerteis, PfaffSteven James Moody, Virk. and Indermohan (eds) Fairclough, Norman 2003. Bideleux, Robert and Ian 2007. andJeffries Bideleux, Ian Robert Vazhdon BBCAlbanian.com.08.01.2011. djegia efletëve votimit të në Shqipëri. burning [The VI. References Elsie, Robert. 2004. Elsie, Robert. Books. History Press. Press. Illinois Action Studying Collective Research Press. Erlbaum Associates, Publishers. Associates, Erlbaum Communication Publications. Strategies ofQualitativeInquiry London London and Routledge. 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StephanieTaylor, in Analyytic and 2001.“Locating Conducting Discourse Research”, in forof Order theConstruction Local References 2004. Stephanie. Schandner-Sievers, Jonathan Potter, (1996). Wodak, Ruth. (ed) 1989. (ed) Wodak, Ruth. 1981. Pollo,Arben Puto. Stefanaq and Zickel, R.Iwaskiw. Raymond andWalter 1994.Albania:a DC: country study. Washington http://www.voanews.com/albanian/news/a-30-2009-07-24-voa9-85658722.html?rss=topstories at Accessed review]. the complaint closes college electoral the [Albania: New York University Press. University University Press. Data. A Guide for Analysis. London: Sage. as Discourse J.(Eds). Simeon andYates, Stephanie Taylor, Margaret., Wetherell, Tirana: Afërdita. (ed.) Todorova Albania. InMaria London: Sage. [26.05.2011]. day. the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. Benjamins Publishing Company. London, Boston and Henley:Routledge &Kegal Paul. Ligjërimi Nacionalist nëShqipëri Imagining the Balkans Representing Reality.Discourse, Rhetoricand Social Construction Language, Power and Ideology Power and Language, Balkan Identities: NationandMemory The history of Albania from its originas to the present fromitsoriginastothe The historyofAlbania Balkan Identities: NationandMemory 61 . New York : Oxford University Press. [Nationalist Discourse in Albania]. . Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John . New York: NewYork . NewYork: . NewYork: . CEU eTD Collection Rama, Luan. 27.01.2011. Princi që na largon nga Evropa. [The prince that drifts us away from Europe] from away us Gazetadrifts Shqiptare. that Accessed prince [The at Evropa. nga largon na që Princi 27.01.2011. Luan. Rama, anarchy?] Gazeta Shqiptare. Accessed at Blushi, Kiço. 26.01.2011. 21 Janari – një tjetër rrëshqitje në anarki? [January 21 – anotherhttp://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92322 slip into maintain power through violence, will die from violence] Gazeta Shqiptare. Accessed at Qosja, Rexhep. 25.01.2011. Ata që në pushtetmbahen me dhunë, nga dhunado vdesin. [Those who http://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92301 corruption heel] Gazeta Shqiptare. Accessed at Gjongecaj, Besnik. 25.01.2011. Shtetformimi nën ekorrupsionit.thundrën [Stateformation under the Shqiptare. Accessed at Basha, Anila. 25.01.2011. Pse e përsërisim historinë tonë?. [Why do we repeat our history?]http://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92200 Gazeta Krasniqi, Afrim. 23.01.2011. Koha e arsyes. [Time to reason] Gazeta Shqiptare. Accessed at higher diplomat] Shekulli. Toçi, Fatmir. 31.01.2011. Deklarata e nxituar e një diplomati të lartë. [The hasty declarationAliu, Naser. 29.01.2011. Pacienti of kryeministër.[The the ministerprime patient] Shekulli. Egypt, the double standards of the internationals] Shekulli. Rrozhani, Arben. 28.01.2011. Shqipëri-Egjipt, standardete dyfishta të ndërkombëtarëve. [Albania- Baze, Mero. 27.01.2011. Një kazan që zien. [A boiling pot] Shekulli. Zaimi,24.01.2011. Arbër. Cila dhunë ishte legjitime? [Which violence was legitimate?] Shekulli. Prifti, Bledar H. 24.01.2011. Asgjë nuk është rastësi! [Nothing is acoincidence] Shekulli.Nano, 24.01.2011. Mustafa. Ky regjim na kanë dorë. regime [This controls us]Shekulli. governmental hooks] Shekulli. Fshazi, Falma. 24.01.2011. Kaq shumë peshq për grepat e qeverisë! [So many Shekulli. fish for the fratricide] to Rrozhani, Arben. 23.01.2011. I njëjti njeri po na çon drejt vëllavrasjes. [The same person Cukali,is Koloreto. leading 23.01.2011. Dita pas të nesërmes.us [Theday after tomorrow] Shekulli. Ballauri, Elsa. 29.01.2011. Populli në mes. [The people in the middle] Panorama. Cako, Alfred. 27.01.2011. Arsye për të ekzistuar. [Reason to exist] Panorama. Kajsiu, Blendi. 26.01.2011. Shteti prej letre. [Paper state] Panorama. executive] Panorama. Gjoni, 26.01.2011. Edlira. Drejtësia nuk vjen nga ekzekutivi. [Justice doesnot come from the do] Panorama. Lubonja, Fatos. 25.01.2011. Ku po shkojmë, ç’duhet të bëjmë. [Where we are going, what shouldthe westate] Panorama. Nazarko, Mentor. 24.01.2011. Politika duhet të heshtë para shtetit. [Politics should be silentLili, Ylber.24.01.2011. Politikë in asgjësuese.front [Annihilating politics] of Panorama. Ylli, Dritan. 23.01.2011. Falë shtetit që nuk ra... [Thanks to the state that did not fall...]Hasimja, Panorama. Ermal. 22.01.2011. Frikë, neveri dhe turp. [Fear, disgust and shame] Panorama. Spiropali, Elisa. 21.01.2011. Protestoj. [I protest] Panorama. VII. Data body 3. 2. 1. Gazeta Shqiptare (10 articles) Gazeta Shekulli (10) Gazeta Panorama (10articles) http://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92288 http://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92413 http://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92335 62 CEU eTD Collection Vehbiu, Ardian. 31.01.2011.Emërzitëm upsetOlimpin. [We Olympus]. Mapo. 11. Zheji, Artur. 29.01.2011. The day after. Mapo. 11. Vangjeli, Lorenc. 29.01.2011. Përplasja e dy botëve. [The clash of two worlds]. Mapo. 11. 11. Misha, Pirro. 28.01.2011. A ishte 21 janari një grusht shteti? [Was January 21 a coup d’estat?]Minxhozi, Mapo. Skënder. 27.01.2011. Një krizë, dy axhenda. [One crisis, two agendas]. Mapo. 11. internationals]. 11. Mapo. Çili, Henri. 26.01.2011. Kthimi i detyruar te ndërkombëtarët. [The obligatory return at the Zheji, Artur.25.01.2011. Ndihmona Arvizu! [Help usArvizu!]. 11. Mapo. Zaloshnja, Eduard. 24.01.2011. Lufta dhe paqja. [War and peace]. Mapo. 11. 10. Mapo. Marku, Mark. 24.01.2011. Një vetëvrasje politike e paralajmëruar. [A foretold political suicide]. should encouraged]. be Mapo. 11. Çili, Henri. 22.01.2011. Dialogu, jodemonstrata, duhet inkurajuar. [Dialogue, not demonstration shqip.com/#/opinion/5118aafb5d45c9b74480f3fe5fd3ce14.html shqip.com/#/opinion/c2a981bb076a67389f039356bc966947.html human lifedifferentiates civilisation from barbarism]. Shqip.Accessed at Gumeni, Daut. 27.01.2011. Nderimi për jetën e njeriut që dallon qytetërimin nga barbaria. [Respect for http://www.gazeta-shqip.com/#/opinion/352ca28f330a3b120d83288306b5deae.html http://www.gazeta-shqip.com/#/opinion/0739d0e0d41afa99c65fdfa17df5fb32.html Kreka,Altin. 24.01.2011. Fundi i Republikës. end [The of the Republic]. Shqip. Accessed on shqip.com/#/opinion/92c14c337dd2e5e6065e345f26ca03d8.html Shameti, Sokol. 22.01.2011. Kambanë zgjimi [Waking bells]. Shqip. Accessed on Shqiptare. Accessed at Dhima,Ilir.30.01.2011. A këshillohet ipakëshillueshmi? [Can you advise the unadvisable?] Gazeta Shqiptare. Accessed at Krasniqi, Afrim. 29.01.2011. Zgjidhja e krizës në pesë variante. [The solution in five variants]http://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92534 Gazeta Enver’s janizary aims to keep power violently] Gazeta Shqiptare. Accessed at Rama, Shinasi. 28.01.2011. Berisha, jeniçer i Enverit, synon ta mbajë pushtetin me dhunë. [Berisha,http://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92488 democracy] Gazeta Shqiptare. Accessed at Kabo, Përparim. 28.01.2011. Kur vritet jeta, vritet demokracia. [When you kill life,you kill on 07.04.2011 at Duma, Grida. 26.01.2011. Shoqëria Tjetër [The other society]. http://www.gazeta-shqip.com/#/opinion/f4c0584767defc079404425d35cd6f3e.html Lame,Artan. 25.01.2011. Dilemae akuzave. dilemma [The ofthe accusations] Shqip. Accessed at http://www.gazeta-shqip.com/artikuj.php?kat=2#/opinion/a348f6cbbf907eb2dd9c66dfab92fa61.html and Fascism]. Accessed on 07.04.2011 at Stefani, Andrea.24.01.2011. Shqipëria mes Europësdhe Fashizmit [Albania between Europe Shqip. Accessed on [Peace-Law-Freedom-Demo-Kra-CI!]. Paqe-Ligj-Liri-Demo-Kra-CI! 23.01.2011. Xhovalin. Delia, http://www.gazeta-shqip.com/#/opinion/24a1dffe3c42c1c13f6c993fc7331981.html the ruined peace]. Nurellari, Adri. Përgjakja 26.01.2011. e paralajmëruar dhe paqja e prishur[The bloodshedforetold and Galdini,Arian. 26.01.2011. Bojkot për hirtë [Boycottpaqes! for sakeof the peace]. Shameti, Sokol. 29.01.2011. Po tani? [What now?] Shqip. Accessed on 5. 4. Gazeta Mapo (10 articles) Gazeta Shqip (10 articles) http://www.gazeta-shqip.com/#/opinion/b7bcf5945906c6c49e0757dc4703c181.html Shqip http://www.gazeta-shqip.com/#/opinion/f6da71af027bb353951419b377639bab.html http://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92112 http://www.balkanweb.com/gazetav5/artikull.php?id=92536 . Accessed on 07.04.2011 at 63 . . . Shqip . . . . Accessed on 07.04.2011 at . http://www.gazeta- http://www.gazeta- . Shqip . http://www.gazeta- . 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