The Impact of Albanian Transnational Migration to Greece on Socio- Economic Development in Fier, Albania: A Case Study By Marinela Semanjaku A Thesis Submitted to Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in International Development Studies August 2020, Halifax, Nova Scotia © Marinela Semanjaku, 2020 Approved: Dr. Evangelia Tastsoglou Supervisor Approved: Dr. Sandy Petrinioti Internal reader Approved: Dr. Cathy Conrad External Examiner Date: August 25, 2020 Dedication I would like to dedicate this work to my husband, Kostas, who has been a constant source of support, patience, love and encouragement during all the challenges of graduate school and life, and to my daughters Fedhra, and baby girl Elektra, who was born a couple of hours after I submitted the last revisions that the second reader had asked. They mean the world to me!! To my parents, Elisaveta and Leonidha, who have crossed the Atlantic Ocean multiple times in the last two years to support me with great care and unconditional love. They kept me going and this thesis would not have been possible without their devotion. ii Acknowledgement I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Evangelia Tastsoglou. It is whole-heartedly appreciated that your thoughtful advice for my study proved absolutely essential for the success of this thesis. Thank you for your constant encouragement, support and insightful feedback, advice and comments on my thesis. I would like to thank my internal reader, Dr. Sandy Petrinioti, for all suggestions and comments on the development of my thesis work. I am grateful for your very valuable comments on this thesis. I would also like to thank the external examiner, Dr. Cathy Conrad, for readily accepting and taking the time to read the thesis in the middle of her summer break. My beloved cousin, Anna Semaniakou, who believed in me and supported me from the beginning of this journey of knowledge nurturing me with unending love, care, prayers, and encouragement, I thank you so much! Special thanks to Saint Mary’s University, the Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research (FGSR), and the International Development Studies Program, for the scholarship and FGSR Graduate Award they awarded me to complete my graduate MA studies in the International Development Studies Program. I wish to thank all of my professors at Saint Mary’s, fellow students, friends, and, finally, the participants of my research project, both in Athens and in Fier, whose assistance was central in the completion of this thesis. They, ultimately, made these years of learning so meaningful and enriching for me! iii Abstract. “The Impact of Albanian Transnational Migration to Greece on Socio-Economic Development in Fier, Albania: A Case Study’’. By Marinela Semanjaku This study attempts to assess the impact of Albanian transnational migration to Greece on the socioeconomic development of post-communist Albania focusing on the town of Fier. Adopting a gender-based perspective and a qualitative research design of semi-structured interviews on eighteen Albanian transnational migrants in Fier, Albania and Athens, Greece, I found that Albanian migrants, settled in Greece and returnees to Albania, contributed through economic and social remittances to the survival of their families and well-being of their communities in Fier. Such contributions hold the potential of fostering socio-economic transformation for both the municipality of Fier and Albania. Moreover, transnational migration encompassed family strategies and relationships between Albanian immigrants in Athens and their families in Albania, which most likely generated development and increased well-being in Fier. Finally, transnational care was mutually shown, between Albanians in Athens and their families in Fier. Such care involved financial, emotional and symbolic dimensions. August 25, 2020 iv Table of Contents Dedication .................................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgement ...................................................................................................................................... iii Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. ix List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................. ix List of Maps ................................................................................................................................................ ix Acronyms ..................................................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................................................... 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background to the study ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Thesis Statement and Research Objectives ......................................................................................... 3 1.3 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Significance of the Study .................................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................................ 7 TOWARD A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................... 7 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Background: Concepts and theories .................................................................................................... 7 2.3 International Migration: Concepts and Theories................................................................................. 9 2.4 Transnationalism and Transnational Migration ................................................................................ 10 2.5 Theories of Development .................................................................................................................. 13 2.6 The Development-Migration Nexus Discourse ................................................................................ 14 2.7 Diaspora and Diaspora-Development Nexus .................................................................................... 15 2.8 Remittances as Vehicles of Development ......................................................................................... 17 2.9 Types of Remittances: Economic and Social .................................................................................... 18 2.10 Transnational Care with a Gender-Based Perspective .................................................................... 19 2.11 Return Migration ............................................................................................................................. 20 2.12 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................................. 24 SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROFILE OF ALBANIA ............................................... 24 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 24 v 3.2 Albania’s Socio-Demographic and Economic Profile ...................................................................... 25 3.2.1 Location and population profile ................................................................................................. 25 3.2.2 Social Profile of Albania ............................................................................................................ 26 3.2.3 Births and deaths in Albania in 2019 ......................................................................................... 26 3.2.4 Fertility Rates ............................................................................................................................. 27 3.2.5 Marriages and Divorces ............................................................................................................. 29 3.2.6 Educational Profile ..................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.7 Foreigners and Refugees in Albania in 2018 ............................................................................