The latest wave of administrative and territorial reform in Albania: the role of political actors

This paper investigates the causes of the present wave of decentralization in Albania, its effects, and particularly it’s potential for a new administrative and territorial reform. There was significant public interest in both the opposition’s demand and the majority’s agreement to review the 2014 reform and find a solution. In contrast to the 2014 reform with a strong top down approach, a bottom-up approach based on technical and professional experience, independent of any party interest, was a solid way to re-correct the territorial division. As a result, it should be noted that the findings presented here later on (soon maybe) may need to be revised.