Greater Albania or Ethnic Albania (Albanian: Shqipëria Etnike) is an irredentist concept of lands that are considered to form the national homeland by some Albanians, based on the present-day or historical presence of Albanian populations in those areas. In addition to the existing Republic of Albania, the term incorporates claims to regions in the neighbouring states, the areas include Kosovo and the Preševo Valley of Serbia, territories in southern Montenegro, northwestern Greece (Chameria), and a part of western Republic of Macedonia.
The unification of an even larger area into a unique territory under Albanian authority had been theoretically conceived by the League of Prizren, an organization of the 19th century whose goal was to unify the Albanian inhabited lands (and other regions) into a single autonomous Albanian Vilayet within the Ottoman Empire. However, the concept of a Greater Albania, as in greater than Albania within its 1913 borders, was only ever implemented de facto and de jure under the Italian and Nazi German occupation of the Balkans during World War II.
According to the Gallup Balkan Monitor 2010 report, the idea of a Greater Albania is supported by the majority of Albanians in Albania (63%), Kosovo (81%) and the Republic of Macedonia (53%).
In the various territories of the Balkans inhabited by Albanians, armed forces were created during the 90s. For the list of military/paramilitary organisations see below.
Read more about Greater Albania: The Term, Current Status, Political Uses of The Concept, International Crisis Group Research
Famous quotes containing the word greater:
“I came along at a time when there was a demand to give men greater visibility and opportunity. In white society they were saying, “Women can’t do it.” In black society, they were saying, “Women do too much.” It’s a diabolical situation.”
—Yvonne Braithwaite Burke (b. 1932)