Hobbled Media, Feeble Democracy

This book thoroughly considers the evolution of the Albanian media after the fall of communism and its effect on Albanias rocky road to democracy. The author opens up and explores a cluster of questions: what role do Albanian journalists play in the media and how do they influence democratic development? How do government regulations of the media promote or hinder the development of democracy? Who owns the media in Albania and what effect does the type of ownership have on the countrys democracy? The political interference with the media is examined by studying controversial media ownership issues and cases in the reports of the Freedom House, The Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) and the Economist Unit. This book provides recommendations for creating an enabling environment for the media and ensuring that they make a positive contribution to the democratic development. Hobbled Media, Feeble Democracy aims to fulfill the absence of similar literature in Albania. The book will be very useful to students of democracy, politics and the media, as well as to those who are interested in the role of the media in transitional democracies.

Xhafer Rakipllari is a PhD Candidate in International Relations at Diplomacy at "The Centre d'Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques" (CEDS) in Paris, France. He is a lecturer of Media Studies, Strategic Communication and International Relations and contributes op-ed articles to major newspapers in Albania.