Sugarland: The Transformation of the Countryside in Communist Albania

This book discusses the development project that turned a swampland into a site of sugar production in Albania after 1945, seeking to free the history of Albanian communism from stereotypes. It explores modernization, development, and social, cultural, and economic policies, and how communism affected the lives of ordinary rural people. The regime borrowed developmental projects from the past and implemented them using social mobilization and a command economy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2023
Publisher: Central European University Press

In this comprehensive historical monograph on non-urban communist Albania, Artan Hoxha delves into an ambitious development project that transformed a swampy land into a thriving sugar production site after 1945. The author aims to shed light on the complex history of Albanian communism, challenging the persistent stereotypes that often portray it as an aberration, paranoia, extreme nationalism, and xenophobia. This micro-history of the agricultural and industrial transformation in southeastern Albania explores a wide array of topics, including modernization, development, and social, cultural, and economic policies. Furthermore, Hoxha delves into the impact of communism on the lives of ordinary rural people, examining the collectivization of agriculture and its effects on their daily lives.

Similar to other communist regimes in the Communist Bloc, the Albanian regime borrowed developmental projects from the past and implemented them through social mobilization and a command economy. The abundance of archival resources and field interviews provide evidence of the authorities' efforts to increase consumption and radically transform people's tastes. However, the book argues that the individuals involved in the sugar project were not mere passive recipients of models from the nation's capital. Rather, technological requirements and social policy considerations necessitated a degree of engagement with the broader world, defying the Cold War bipolarity.

The author's meticulous research and analysis shed new light on the complexities of Albanian communism, challenging the simplistic narratives that have often dominated the discourse. This book is a valuable contribution to the study of communist societies and provides valuable insights into the challenges and complexities of development in post-World War II Europe.

Weight: 584g
Dimension: 236 x 159 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789633866160