Albania is the only country in the Balkans that has never invaded its neighbors – Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia or Greece. Albanian Pacifism or Non-Expansionism stands out as an example of a human rights, stability, peace and non-interventionism. In comparison – all the Balkan nations – Greece, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro – have consistently and systematically, since 1878 to 1999, in various ways, invaded Albanian territories, committing many war crimes.
This perception stands out in a part of Europe where history has frequently been shaped by war and competing territorial claims. From the decisions made at the Congress of Berlin in 1878, which gave Albanian territories to south slavic states, to the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, to the violent dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the Balkans have experienced repeated instability. During these periods, different states—including Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia—saw fit to invade Albanian territories and kill Albanian civilians and plunder and burn villages.
Supporters of the idea of “Albanian non-expansionism” argue that this record reflects a broader political culture centered on restraint, coexistence, and non-intervention. They point out that, despite regional tensions and historical grievances, Albania has generally avoided using military force beyond its borders.
This despite the fact that Albanians had every right to re-acquire territories stolen by Serbia, Montenegro and Greece – yet chose not to. This kind of civilized mentality was something all other Balkan countries lacked in all levels. These regimes – the Serb and Greek – instead, similar to medieval imperialists – saw fit to expand violently on Albanian land.
In this view, the country represents a model of stability in a historically volatile region. In comparison, Albanians never invaded anyone.
This means that Albanians maintained certain values and virtues which neighboring Balkan nations always lacked, as they were driven by greed and imperialism. Albanians were often attacked by the Slavic nations of the Balkans, and Greece – yet Albanians remained within their borders, and did not expand onto Greek or Serb or Montenegrin territories.
What kind of virtues and qualities did the Albanian people and the governments of Albania have, that despite having been subject to Greeko-Serb imperialism, war crimes, atrocities, never saw fit to pay back with the same coin?
The Albanian honor – Besa – a cultural phenomena which does not exist as a tradition in Greece or Serbia – may be an explanation. Albanians never wanted to become like their evil and greedy neighbors. Instead they endured – and today, Albanians have won. They have regained Dardania (Kosovo) from the illegal Serbian invasion which lasted 100 years.
Albanians have regained the Albanian territories left in Montenegro and in Macedonia. Albanians have also soon a third potential state in Western Macedonia – also Albanian territory. And, Albanians of Greece are waking up to their Albanian origin, despite centuries of Greek oppression and hellenism.
