“Legality during the communist regime 1944-1990”
When communists come into power (1944), the Albanian society faced many changes in many ways. Such changes affected the organization of the State and economy, property and working relations; the entire social structure underwent radical changes.
All these changes were triggered by one illegal act: seizure of power by violence.
Such act was never denid by the communists who proudly materialized it in the slogan
“Power grows out of the barrel of a gun”. In 1960, in front of 81 communist and labour parties in Moscow, Enver Hoxha declared that “So far, no people, no proletariat and no communist or labour party ever took power without blood or violence.”
In addition to seizing power illegaly, the communists sought to shape the Albanin State according to their political vision and did so through laws.
The Institute for Studies of Communism Crimes and its Consequences in Albania is organizing an international conference “Legality of the communist regime 1944-1990″ where various Albanian and international researchers will scientifically probe into the legality issues during the communist regime. International reserachers may probe into the legality issues of the communist regime in Albania or any other former communist countries.
The conference aims at promotiong scientific debate on legality issues during the communist regimes.
The Institute for Studies of Communism Crimes and its Consequences invites researchers from various fields – historians, legal professionals, philosophers, sociologists, politolocologists, etc. – to submit their paper proposals for the conference “Legality during the communist regime 1994-1990″ on 25-26 November 2020 in Tirana.
This conference will explore the following key topics:
• Legality of power seizure by communists
• Legal architecture of the dictatorship of the proletariat in Albania referring to the Constitution and other laws
• Constitution and its implementation (1946), constitutional amendments, new constitution (1976), upholding (or not) of constitutionality
• Judicial organization and its (lack of) independence
• Legality of the APL activity
• Legality of the Democratic Front as electoral entity
• Legal framework of the State Security Service
• Fundamental human rights and freedoms, their expression in legislation and violations
Freedom of speech
Freedom of religion
Right to property
Freedom of movement, etc.
• Positive rights sanctioned by law and their observance/violation
Right to education
Right to health care
Right to work, etc.
Right of defense in court
• Legality of seizures, confiscations, nationalizations, etc.
• Legality of collectivism, fight against land-owners (kulaks), etc.
• Legality of interments and deportations (thousands of persons lived in internment for several decades)
• Internment of juveniles vis-à-vis domestic laws and international conventions
• Legality of killings on borders
• Legality of election processes
• International agreements adopted and their compliance
These are guiding topics, however, applicants are free to present other topics in synergy with the focus of this conference.
Applicants should submit an abstract of 250-300 words and a brief professional CV to: info@iskk.gov.al. Deadline for submission of abstracts is 25 May 2020.
Selected participants shall be notified no later than 5 June 2020.
PS. Given the situation with the international pandemic Covid-19, we hope and wish the world resumes normal life by late autumn. However, the conference will take place online if conditions impede the classical form of presenting papers at public premises. All papers presented at the conference will be published in a special publication.