Self-Reliance under Socialism - The Case of Albania

Abstract

This article discusses the strategy of self-reliance found in Albania. Albania is known as one of the most extreme cases of self-reliance, and the author analyses information on the Albanian economic development in the post-war period in order to examine whether this reputation is a fact or a myth. The conclusion is that self-reliance in the full sense of the word has not been the road to develop ment in Albania due to aid and assistance from other socialist countries, especially China. Nevertheless, Albania today provides a unique example in achieving to a great extent its goal of self-reliance.