Nostalgia for Communism
On February 11-12, IDMC, in collaboration with the Memorial and Remembrance Center, held a workshop on the theme "Nostalgia for Communism."
The first day began under the direction of Dr. Mag. Idrit Idrizi, with a discussion of a text on nostalgia and its various forms, taken from Ekaterina Kalinina's (2014) "Mediated Post-Soviet Nostalgia," as well as Roberts & Louyest's (2015) preface "Nostalgia, Culture and Identity in Central and Eastern Europe." These texts had been previously sent to the participants. After this, the young participants divided into groups, and they discussed their own ideas regarding nostalgia for the communist era. By comparing perceptions in other former communist countries to the situation in Albania, they aimed to identify the factors that contribute to collective nostalgia for the period of dictatorship.
The young participants shared examples from daily life and stories they had heard from people who lived during that time, expressing an interest in learning more and a desire to explore these themes in greater depth. The day concluded with a discussion of these topics, which sparked curiosity and a willingness to undertake further research into the past.
On the second day, the participants discussed interviews that had been prepared by young people from Shkodra, answering two questions:
- How do you view communism in Albania?
- What is your opinion on nostalgia for communism today?
The serious engagement of the young participants in this workshop leads us to believe that they are not as passive as some might assume regarding these topics. Therefore, it is necessary to involve them as much as possible in projects of this kind, aimed at confronting the past.
The participants were able to learn more about their families and their relationships with the Albanian dictatorship. They also gained a deeper understanding of the complex phenomenon of nostalgia. They expressed that the activity had increased their interest in learning more about the Albanian dictatorship and its specific consequences.
On the second day of the workshop, the young participants learned about the history and importance of the Memorial and Remembrance Center, guided by Pjerin Mirdita, director of the museum. The day concluded with the development of group study projects, which the participants can pursue in the future.
The IDMC partner for this workshop was the Site of Witness and Memory in Shkodra.
About the trainer
- Dr. Idrit Idrizi is a researcher at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (program: Post-Doc-Track). He studied history and human rights (with distinction) and obtained a doctorate in history (with distinction) at the University of Vienna. Research area: Communism and memory of communism in Albania and Southeastern Europe.