Changing Urban Landscape in Albania

What is it about?

This chapter focuses on the transformation of the urban landscape in the Tirana–Durrës region to offer a historically contextualized analysis of the impact of post-communist policies and European programmes on the development of this area. It addresses three major factors. First, ordinary people’s access to the city’s public space and to previously restricted residential areas. Second, the impact of internal and external demographic movement and informal urbanization. Third, the role of the international community for the accomplishment of EU programmes, such as the construction of Corridor VIII and sustainable cities planning. The author suggests that the resulting outcome may well serve the interests of international political agendas but has problematic ramifications in terms of democratic citizenship rights and good governance.

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