THE KANUN OF NORTHERN ALBANIA: TRADITION, ORGANIZED CRIME AND SALAFI NETWORKS
THE KANUN OF NORTHERN ALBANIA: TRADITION, ORGANIZED CRIME AND SALAFI NETWORKS

Summary/Abstract: The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, a medieval corpus of customary law originating in the northern highlands of Albania, has long been considered one of the most enduring and culturally embedded normative systems in the Balkans. For centuries, the Kanun provided a framework of order and governance in spaces where state institutions were absent, fragile or deliberately resisted. In the post-Communist period, however, the Kanun resurfaced in a dramatically altered socio-political environment, where it encountered two powerful and transnational forces: organized crime and Salafi-jihadist religious networks.This paper explores the historical origins of the Kanun, its reactivation in thepost-1991 transition and its role in legitimizing the practices of Albanian organized crime groups. Using a qualitative analysis of existing scholarly literature and policy reports, the study examines how customary law interacts with both criminal networks and Salafi religious movements. It further investigates the complex interactions between this customary system and the rise of Salafi networks in northern Albania. The analysis argues that the Kanun operates as a parallel structure of governance, shaping both criminal practice and religious authority, while complicating state-building and security consolidation. The findings highlight the broader implications of this dynamic for social order, governance and counterterrorism in Albania and the wider Western Balkans.

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