Albania's Journey from Communism to Democracy: A Complex Legacy

When a massive crowd of protesters toppled a huge statue of the country's deceased dictator Enver Hoxha in Albania's capital on February 20, 1991, it was a turning point in the country's modern history. For over 40 years,Albania had been ruledby one of the most oppressive communist regimes in Europe. Some even dubbed it Europe's North Korea. Thirty-five years later, democratic Albania has come far since the days of the Hoxha regime: It is now amember of NATOand anEU candidate country.But with corruption, emigration and political polarization still major problems, challenges remain.