Srpsko-crnogorska manjina u Skadru: izazovi identiteta
Serbian-Montenegrin Minority of Shkodra: a Contested Identity

Author(s): Inis Shkreli
Subject(s): Politics and religion, Nationalism Studies, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Politics and Identity
Published by: KPZ Beton
Keywords: Serbo-Montenegrins; Albania; Shkodra; Minorities; Identity;
Summary/Abstract: This paper presents the historical and present situation of the Serbian and Montenegrin minority in the district of Shkodra in Albania. The paper focuses on components that form the collective identity: (1) language that is a strong reference to ethnic identity; (2) religion and self-stereotypes that play an important role in defining the boundaries of the group and also create the categories (sub-groups) inside the Slav speaking community in Shkodra. The second part of the paper focuses on the chaotic transition from communism in Albania, which influenced migratory movements of Serbians-Montenegrins towards the origin country, Yugoslavia. Ultimately, I discuss the 2011 Albanian Census, praised as the first Albanian census after 80 years to include the questions on religion and ethnicity, and argue that it was not fully representative when it comes to Serbs or Montenegrins and other minorities due to some discriminatory elements towards them which it involved.

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