The Balkan Route: Albania in Contemporary Migration [Hardcover]

This volume presents an in-depth investigation into the dynamics of irregular migration through Albania, which recently have radically transformed the traditional perception of the country from a land of emigration to a crucial transit hub.

Introduction: a reflection on the causes and factors of migration  1. Redefining migration routes  2. The great escape  3. Migration to and through the Western Balkans and Albania  4. Albanian migration policies  5. Deterrence laboratories: the Italy-Albania agreement in the European context  Conclusions: Albanias new frontier and the political geography of mobility

This volume presents an in-depth investigation into the dynamics of irregular migration through Albania, which recently have radically transformed the traditional perception of the country from a land of emigration to a crucial transit hub.

Through an interdisciplinary reading, the author examines transformations in migration routes in the Western Balkans, highlighting how the externalisation of EU migration policies has affected the region, leading Albania to become a stable containment point for migrants. The author draws from empirical data, personal stories and policy analyses to explore the complex interactions between migrants, local communities and national and supranational policies. From the exodus of the 1990s to cooperation with Frontex and the latest bilateral accords with Italy, Albanias trajectory reveals how migration governance has been reshaped at Europes borders. Addressing the evolution of the Balkan routes leading to the EU and their interrelation, and the impact of migration on the Albanian social and political fabric, the book concludes by underlining the strategic importance of Albania in European migration routes and the need to reformulate regional and European cooperation in the management oflóP