Opening Of The Albanian Question In Yugoslavia In The Shadow Of The Cominform Conflict 1948–1954 Cover Image

Otvaranje Albanskog Pitanja U Jugoslaviji U Senci Sukoba Između Jugoslavije I Informbiro-A 1948–1954
Opening Of The Albanian Question In Yugoslavia In The Shadow Of The Cominform Conflict 1948–1954

Author(s): Aleksandar Životić
Subject(s): History
Published by: Institut za savremenu istoriju, Beograd
Keywords: Yugoslavia; Albania; Informbiro; Socialism

Summary/Abstract: Albanian government used the conflict between Yugoslavia and Cominform countries to disguise the opening of the Albanian question and attempt to annex the Yugoslav territory settled with Albanians as a fight against “revisionist and Trotskyist” policy of Yugoslav party and state leadership. The presupposition was that in the case of a serious conflict between Yugoslavia and Soviet Union or inner deposal of the Tito regime, Albanians could get a territory as a prize for their activity against Yugoslav party leadership. Albanian government sought Soviet support, but USSR understood the motives and attempted to channel Albanian insistence from the solution of Albanian question of Yugoslavia towards fight against Yugoslav revisionism. Soviet have verbally supported Albanian demands, but on the other hand they knew how to limit them to mere political rhetoric and propaganda. Albania was important to Soviets as in the fight against Tito regime, but USSR was not ready to risk recomposition of the Balkans and further destabilization of the region. In order to provoke exactly that, Albanian government orchestrated a media campaign, as well as the diplomatic pressure and the infiltration of the spies, distribution of propaganda and intelligence network. However, spiting the invested effort and resources, Albanian government failed to accomplish its goals, partly due to the Yugoslav wide reaction, and partly due to the lack of the substantial Soviet support.

  • Issue Year: 2009
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 91-102
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Serbian