The Convoluted Road of the Communist Party of Albania: 1941-1948

The Communist Party of Albania, later converted into the Labor Party and subsequently into the Socialist Party, was the only political party ever in Albania until the end of the Cold War leading it upon extreme isolation. As such, it stirs up special consideration. Precisely, this paper is focused on tracing the road accomplished by the Communist Party of Albania from its foundation in 1941 to its derogation into the Labor Party of Albania in 1948. It deals with factors which determined its foundation, its role in the National Liberation movement, its legitimacy, its relations with the Communist Party of Yugoslavia and their implications upon Albanian people. Moreover, the analysis of relations with the Communist Party of Yugoslavia places a significant role in the history of the Communist Party of Albania given that it was founded and controlled through the Yugoslav emissaries in line with the goals, interests and policies of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. Yet, the journey of the Communist Party of Albania cannot be considered detached from national and international situation, namely the other resistance groups, the influence of international factor, strategic importance and attention paid to this country in the context of the Second World War and evolution following the developments both at national and international level in the course of the war years and beyond.