Role náboženství v albánské socialistické propagandě
The Role of Religion in Albanian Socialist Propaganda

Summary/Abstract: Since the Second World War, the Albanian communist regime sought to reduce the impact of churches in the country. The anticlerical procedure culminated in 1967 when the regime proscribed the religious institutions. Finally, under the new constitution of 1976, Albania was declared atheist country. Analysis of Albanian contemporary press and official ideological artifacts focuses on religious matter and investigates not only the anticlerical argumentation but also monitors the role of religion in the ideology of Albanian communist state. In Albanian, similarly to other East European countries, was the connection on foreign countries, particularly on Western countries (included especially Catholic Church), one of the most important anticlerical argumentation. Church and religiosity were presented as a sign of backwardness that prevents progress. Historical materials demonstrated that all the negative phenomena in Albanian society stemming from religious practice (vendetta, gender inequality, illiteracy etc.) or being caused by churches which held intentionally the Albanian society in backwardness. State-controlled propaganda also emphasized economic harm caused by churches and religion. Religious topic was entirely involved in agitation against external enemies of Albania which gradually became Yugoslavia, the USSR and China. From the Albanian view, it is this lack of progress against religion from the side of these states which reveals the fact that these countries have betrayed the principles of Marxism-Leninism and been gradually approaching to the principles of Western capitalist countries.

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