BEKTASHISTAN | Albania's New Country?

In September 2024, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced a plan to grant sovereignty to the Bektashi Order, a Sufi Islamic group with a unique spiritual and cultural role in Albania. This proposal, to establish a "Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order" around its headquarters in Tirana, would create a new autonomous religious territory similar to Vatican City. While the Order has embraced the idea, many Albanians view it as a risky political move that threatens national unity. The initiative has also sparked debate internationally, particularly among Bektashi leaders in Turkey, who see the idea as incompatible with secular traditions. Additionally, the plan faces practical obstacles, including the need for parliamentary approval and potential conflicts with Albania’s constitution.

If successful, this initiative could have a broader impact across the Balkans, particularly in Kosovo. Some speculate it might set a precedent for religious autonomy, potentially influencing discussions about the Serbian Orthodox Church’s status in Kosovo. As Albania negotiates EU membership, questions remain about the potential international recognition and legal status of this new entity. While the future of this proposal is uncertain, it raises intriguing questions about the intersection of religion, politics, and statehood in the Balkans.

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*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
02:23 Albania: Location and Population
03:23 The Emergence of Bektashi Islam
05:16 Bektashism within the Ottoman Empire
06:20 The Bektashi Order within Albania
07:56 The Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order
09:42 Reactions to the Announcement of a Bektashi State
12:00 A Model for the Serbian Church in Kosovo?

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#Albania #Bektashi #Bektashistan

[JamesKerLindsay]

After all the focus on the United States, I decided to do something completely different this week. This is a curious story that I had hoped to cover earlier. In September, the Albanian prime minister's announcement that he wanted to create a Bektashi Sovereign State in the country's capital, Tirana, attracted much attention. But while many dismissed it as a gimmick, there could be something to it. So, do you think it is a good idea? And could it be used to manage some other issues? I mentioned the case of Kosovo, but could this also be an option for the Ecumenical Patriarch in Turkey? Let me know your thoughts below.

[andin]

As a bektashi Albanian I think that our prime minister has too much free time on his hand. We don’t need this. lol 😅

[erdibulku]

as an albanian this idea caught all of us by surprise. it came completely out of nowhere, it had never even been discussed in our country before. even the highest bektashi cleric was clueless when asked about it. bektashi people themselves are opposed to it. not to mention it violates the constitution.

[lambda]

A new balkan country was certainly not on my 2024 geopolitics bingo card :D

[AppNetEnt]

This is fascinating. I was just in Tirana and so surprised, pleasantly, at its openness and acceptance of everyone. I freely flew my drone in the city centre, when i compare how that would have been viewed just a few years ago it would have been impossible, yet Albanians are so incredibly open, friendly and accepting of everyone. I agree this is just a publicity stunt from Rama, I don’t think it will see the light of day, but the sheer fact that this has been proposed is remarkable in itself.

Albania has a troubled past, maybe this is a way to really ensure its liberal attitudes are stamped all over its future. I kinda like it.

[bernd_das_brot]

Awesome to see a video about this!!! Read the article a month ago or so and immediately wondered about what you would think.

[maziicmontgomery]

Been waiting for a video on this!! Thank you!

[aureaphilos]

A very interesting topic, and well presented (as your videos always are! It brings to mind the monastic territory of Mount Athos in Greece, and the Sovereign Order of Malta.

[aureliogj]

Just another example of Churchill’s famous saying that “The Balkans produce more politics then they will be ever able to consume”

[ar-]

Thank you for the video.
I didn’t think we will get one so I asked the question for the Anniversary Q&A but, I got a full blown video instead.

[NikolaHD]

Ever since i heard about it, i tought its a joke. Now that its coming closer to realisation, I think its even bigger joke. Albania has no power like italy had. Bektashi is a very small percentage of Islam therefore it can only caused a problems for Albania and nothing else.

[kw]

wow, was really expecting a video on USA lol but this is an interesting subject that I've previously never heard of! thanks!

[arrore]

1. Bektashistan (...stan? Never expected such an irony jab from you:). Bektashi Order (State)
2. From 2023 Census 45%, are are Muslim, 5% Bektashi. The 70% figure is a 1912 assumption.
3. Albanian ethnicity is about 98% in the country. The remaining 1-2% are Greeks, Bugarians/Macedonians, Goranis, Roma&Gypsies. There are no Serbs in Albania. Maximum a 100 or so and Montenegrins a bit more.
The 10% minority figure doesn't make sense. I think you're assuming the census undeclared 10% to be from minorities.
4. It's surprising that you attributed a religion to 100% of the Albanian population when the people are in fact one of the least religious in Europe.
You always make these out of date generalisations when profiling Albania. It's the only thing I don't like from your channel :).

Other than that, Great information.

[Apistoleon]

Bektashis and Alevis are very different than other Islamic sects. Men and women pray together and listen the religious head, together in the same congregation. They do round prayer dances together. Bektashis and Alevis are very similar. Women can even become the head of the religious and the cultural group for centuries, way before other Abrahamic religions or sects allowed such a thing. Alevis and Bektashis have ancient Turkic and Anatolian elements in their faith. Sunnism is a more alien sect to the original Turkish culture and to the Balkan culture. Of course Sunnism has many interpretations as well. Sunnis always create blasphemous lies against Alevis and Bektashis about sexual promiscuousness. Yet you can find so many sex or molestation scandals in Sunni, Shiite groups, congregations, tarikahs and sects, like Catholics, Evangelicals, Orthodox etc

[Haashik]

I learn a lot on you amazing podcasts, brilliant professor, I highly appreciated you so much.

[mirelsalaj]

According to the census done last year the muslim percentage in Albania has dropped around 40-45%.

[skyblader]

As an Alevi from Turkey, I should say that Alevis and Bektaşis have a secular structure. Because of this structure, creating a Bektaşi state is contradictory to fate. States shouldn't have religions.

[FabledCity]

I attended an event back in September (during UN week) out of sheer curiosity where PM Rama was promoting his rather quixotic vision of this Sufi micro state within Tirana. Hi s principle message seemed to be he wants to reshape Albania's image on the world stage from being perceived as a deeply corrupt mafia state to being seen as a bastion of 21st century tolerance on the EU's periphery.

[acolyte]

I appreciate the Google Earth clip. How far technology has come!

[x-hulio]

Albanian here and from a home with mixed religion.
Correction about some of the numbers given at the beginning by last year's census in Albania there are 47% of the population is muslim (non bektashi) and also we don't have Serbian minority. We as Albanians have changed religions for centuries ( for economy and political purpose like all Balkan populations) and we like in harmony with each other since we are Albanians before anything else. Bektashi state probably is a political stunt of the government and highly unlikely to happen. But the Bektashi's are a well respected religion in Albania and contributors to the national cause and known by their one of their phrases "Pa komb nuk ka fe" which means without a nation there is no religion.