THE UNIVERSITY OF HULL Transition Stories: Politics of Urban Living Space in Tirana City Region, Albania Being a Thesis submitted for the Degree of doctor of Philosophy in the University of Hull By Marcela Mele BSc (Hons) MSC (Geography) Tirana University December 2010 Abstract This thesis contributes to the geography of urban transition and to the expansion of knowledge of the post socialist city. Although many cities in transitional countries have inherited similar forms of housing and infrastructure provision and urban development from communist regime, there are important differences in the ways in which the recent decentralization and deregulation of urban development has impacted on, and activated, suburban land development interests and processes. There are different 'transition stories' yet to be revealed about urban development patterns, processes and politics in particular countries. A case in point is the process of suburban development in the capital city-region of Albania, Tirana, which exhibits some unique regulatory conflicts as it moves towards an ostensibly more liberal, free-market and decentralized urban development system. By focusing on the case of Tirana, this thesis provides an example of such multiple 'transition stories' of post-socialist urban development and its politics. This thesis aims to contribute to the limited literature on the politics of urban development in Albania during the transition period. It forms the context for the empirical analysis of local transition stories in Tirana city region, examined from the perspective of property rights and livelihood strategies. It concerns the underpinning role of property knowledge in shaping livelihood strategies in the post socialist city. One key argument that transcends all research questions is that local politics in the living urban space of the Tirana city region is not yet competitive (of a city and suburban area), but remains fundamentally contested. An explanatory analysis is presented of contemporary policy based on secondary and primary data about not only the regulation of new urban spaces, especially in suburban areas of Tirana, but also local property knowledge as it has evolved and is shared between different actors in Tirana city region. This will reveal how transition stories intersect and interact with the new socio-political context. This thesis was written between 2006 and 2010 and used a triangulation of qualitative approach through semi structure interviews, focus groups, and direct observation of local officials in Tirana city region. Acknowledgement My time spent in England since 2006 has been a great experience and very rewarding because I have had the constructive feedback and continues support of wonderful professors in my department. First and foremost I would like to express my warm appreciation and gratitude to my principle supervisor, Professor Andy Jonas for dedicating a great deal of time and energy. He has patiently guided me through my graduate studies and is my source of inspiration and self-confidence. He has shown me what a person needs to have to be a great mentor and friend. The time that he has put, the tireless hours of discussing the thesis and going over the writing, have helped me develop professionally. Special thanks go to Professor David Gibbs and Dr. Pauline Deutz, my committee members. I appreciate so much their guidance and comments have improved my thesis. I want to thank all academic and non-academic staff in our department for their countless kind supports and sharing of thoughts and laughter. I want to acknowledge with great thanks the various sources of financial support for this study. As a self funding PhD student I firstly thank Dr. David Atkinson providing me with a waiver in my first year of PhD; secondly I thank the Graduate School for awarding me the ORS Scholarship, which covered 70% of my tuition fee. I am also grateful to the University of Hull for helping as an international student. I want to acknowledge the department of Geography for contributing toward the costs of the three field works to Albania, conferences and hardship times during my studies. My graduate work would not have been finished without the constant help from my family: my husband, Herian, whose love and sacrifices are greatly appreciated and my two children, Hermis and Estela, whose understanding and enthusiasm made my graduate studies hectic but also fun. Special thanks go to my sisters and brother for their prayers and support. In Hull, I have made a new extended family and I would like to thank the many colleagues and friends who I could not all list here. This thesis is dedicated to my parents, especially my father, Kujtim Shehu, who would not be able to attend my thesis support but have been from the very beginning a source of strength, inspiration and love. 11 Table of Contents Contents Page Number Abstract i Acknowledgement ii List of Contents iii List of Tables vii List of Figures vii List of Maps viii List of Pictures viii Appendices xi Acronyms and Abbreviations x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Post Socialist City and Urban Development 2 1.3 Aims and Objectives 7 1.4 Thesis Structure 8 1.5 Summary of the Main Findings 9 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW: THE POST SOCIALIST CITY AND THE POLITICS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT 2.1 Introduction 10 2.2 Patterns and Processes of Urban Development in Central and Eastern Europe in the Communist Era 12 2.2.1 Urban Policy in the Socialist Era 15 2.2.2 Housing Policy and Land Development m the Socialist City 18 2.3 Urban Development and Spatial Governance in the Post Socialist Cities 19 2.3.1 Transition Economies and Urban Development's Politics since 1990 20 2.3.2 Re-Regulating Urban Space under Transition 25 2.4 Decentralization, Fragmentation and Urban Governance in Albania 26 2.5 Private Property, Property Knowledge and Livelihoods 29 2.6 Urban Development and Livelihood Strategies 32 2.7 Conclusion 34 in CHAPTER 3: FORMS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN ALBANIA IN RECENT HISTORICAL CONTEXT 3.1 Introduction 35 3.2 Albania's Historical, Geographical and Economic Context 37 3.2.1 Albania in Democratisation 41 3.3 Forms of Urban Development in Albania in the Period Up To 1945 42 3.3.1 Albanian Cities and Tirana's Transformation under King Zog I 42 3.4 Forms of Urban Development during Communist Era 44 3.4.1 Urbanization under Communism 44 3.4.2 Restricted Migration Policy 45 3.4.3 The Development of Tirana Prior To 1990 49 3.4.4 Tirana and Diverted Migration 50 3.5 Political and Economical Trends in Albania after 1990 52 3.6 Conclusions 59 CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY 4.1 Introduction - Assumptions and methods 64 4.1.1. Concepts of Urban Politics and the problem of 'Travelling Theory' 64 4.1.2. Data Challenges in Albania: 'Filling in the gaps of Local Knowledge' 66 4.2 Justification of case study Strategy for the Research 68 4.2.1 Study area-Kamza 68 4.3 Selection of the Relevant Categories/Groups 70 4.4 Research Techniques and Data Collection Methods 72 4.4.1 Interviews 72 4.4.2 Selection of Interviews 74 4.4.3 Selection of Participants 75 4.4.4 Snowball 76 4.4.5 Direct Observation 77 4.4.6 Triangulation 78 4.5 Secondary Data Resources 79 4.5.1 Web based Research 79 4.6 Research Ethics 80 4.6.1 Dual Role Researcher-Translator 81 4.6.2 Positionality of the Researcher 82 4.7 Data Analysis 83 4.7.1 Strategies for Interview Transcripts 84 4.7.2 Thematic Analysis of Interview Data 85 4.7.3 NVivo and Coding of Data 88 4.8 Conclusions 91 CHAPTER 5: DECENTRALIZATION, FRAGMENTATION AND PROPERTY RIGHTS 5.1 Introduction 93 5.2 New Powers and Responsibilities for Cities in Albania 94 5.3 Decentralization and Local Government in Albania 97 5.3.1 The Main Trends of Local Government up to 1990 98 iv 5.3.2 Decentralization and Local Government after 1990 100 5.3.3 The International Organisations and Local NGOs in Albania 101 5.3.3.1 Co-plan Contribution to Community and Local Governance in Albanian Cities 103 5.3.4 The New Territorial and Administrative Division in Albania 104 5.3.5 Fiscal Decentralization of Local Government in Albania 107 5.3.5.1 Challenges on Local Government in Albania 112 5.3.5.2 Property Tax's Impact On Local Government Revenue 113 5.4 Conclusions 115 CHAPTER 6: THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW URBAN POLITICS IN TIRANA CITY REGION: KAMZA CASE STUDY 6.1 Introduction 117 6.2 Local Government - Local Governance in Tirana City Region 118 6.3 The Municipality Kamza - Its History and Transformation from Rural administration to Urban Local Government Unit 121 6.4 The Power of Tirana Council Versus Kamza Municipality 127 6.5 Annexation - Amalgamation 132 6.6 Coplan Assistance on Local Urban Governance in Kamza Municipality 136 6.6.1 The Role of'Elders' in Supporting Local Governance 140 6.6.2 The Emergence of a Politics of the Urban Living Space: Kamza Municipality 141 6.6.3 Self-regulation 144 6.6.4 Infrastructure Provision 145 6.6.5 Political Dimension 147 6.7 Conclusions 151 CHAPTER 7: PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 7.1 Introduction 153 7.2 A Historical Overview of the Land Tenure in Albania 154 1. The Period under Ottoman Empire 156 2. The Period during World War I and World War II (1912-1945) 156 3. Land Tenure in Albania under Communism 1945-1990 157 4. Land and Properly Reform in Albania after 1990 158 7.3 Law 'On Land' 7501: Challenges and Restitution Claims 161 7.4 Implications of Reform for Local Development and Tenure in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Kamza 163 7.4.1 The Impact of the Land Law 7501 on Ex-Land Owners 165 7.4.2 The Impact of the Land Law 7501 on Migrants 168 7.5 The Form of Land Development by Illegal Settlements: Differences between Tirana City and Kamza 169 7.6 Property Rights - Legalization Vs.