CAS SEE Seminars with Guests: Edon Quesari on “Nationalism and historiography. The Albanian case” in conversation with the RECAS Fellow Kriton Kuci.

The grand narrative of recent Albanian historiography, and even that of earlier periods, follows a storyline that reaches deep into the past, embodying features of continuity and establishing a predominantly essentialist view regarding the concept of the nation. From the primitive Illyrian tribes through medieval agrarian principalities to the modern nation-state, Albanian historiography has primarily focused on identifying the unchangeable essence amid various distinct events. This vision of history as a continuous thread aligns seamlessly with major developments in the official historiographies of contemporary Eastern and Southeastern Europe. In the realm of everyday politics, this interpretation of the past acts as a prerequisite for entering the political arena. Once accepted, it allows the subject to attain a status of normalcy. In the following lecture, Edon Qesari will examine the relationship between historical research and nationalist affirmation within what is considered the official version of Albania’s past. To achieve this, Qesari will introduce methodological solutions that address political interferences and promote a critical approach to historical studies. These solutions aim to provide a remedy for the inherent biases in the historiographical narrative, fostering a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of Albania’s history.