The paper “Social Business under the Youth Guarantee: Experience from the ground in Albania” deal... more The paper “Social Business under the Youth Guarantee: Experience from the ground in Albania” deals with the model of Social Business, piloted in Albania, as a sustainable mode to encourage youth entrepreneurship and employment. The Albanian social business model, named Youth Albanian Parcel Service (YAPS), which employs exclusively disadvantaged youth, is an innovative example of new thinking on tackling social exclusion and reducing poverty. Case analysis of YAPS (Youth Albanian Parcel Service), the successful Social Business Model established almost 20 years ago thanks to a harmonized multidimensional effort of key stakeholders, is used to bring in evidence from the ground to promote the novel concept of using efficiency and in-built sustainability of free markets to generate social wealth. The evidence provided here shows that a new approach is emerging vis-á-vis social policies. A shift in thinking on social policy foresees the emergence of a social capital approach to social ex...
Social work has little tradition as an academic discipline or as a profession in Albania despite ... more Social work has little tradition as an academic discipline or as a profession in Albania despite the high need for well-trained social workers. Social work in Albania had practically not existed in the past, neither before the WWII nor during socialist regime. It was the deep political and economic changes of the post socialist phase and the support of government and non-government stakeholders, like the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Emigration and Ex-Persecuted People as well as the Grand Valley University, Michigan, which paved the way for the establishment from scratch of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Tirana in 1992. Two other schools of Social Work were also established in two public universities, one at the University of Shkodra (2005) and another at the Elbasan University (2004). The Albania's adherence to the Bologna Declaration brought a new reform, initiated in 2005, in which the Departments of Social Work were actively involved and played a critical role to adjust the curricula according to the EU standards.
The paper "Clash of values and the new profiles of Albanians in an endless transition", addresses... more The paper "Clash of values and the new profiles of Albanians in an endless transition", addresses social values that characterize Albanian path of transition from centrally planned to market economy as well as the impact they have on the new identity of Albanians. Albania, one of the smallest and poorest countries in Europe, like other Central and Eastern European countries experienced the past socialist system, which by Constitution was based on "Social Solidarity" and "Equality". Regardless the principles of the past regimes adopted in Central and Eastern European countries, including Albania, the socialist system did not bring neither equality nor solidarity, therefore rather than of "social cohesion", the differences among social groups, later deepened. Although Albania was the last communist country to embark on the transition from socialism to capitalism, Albanians were eager to contribute to bring in the biggest change ever seen in their history. Despite that, the Albanian transition has been painful and turbulent, shocked time after time by profound crisis. While the country is still among the poorest in Europe, Albanians seem confused regarding the values they have to adopt to build a future. Rather than one identity, we identify "three profiles of Albanians", respectively hopeless, rulebreakers and dreamers. This paper, by addressing the outcomes of transition in Albania, focuses on the relevance of social values inherited from the past and their impact on the success of reforms, which undoubtedly brings in the real dilemma of transformation, namely "the abolishment or adoption of values". The findings and conclusions derive from the evidence based analysis of policies, implemented during the last 20 years in Albania and the impact they had on the past, present and the future of the country. The paper is composed of four sections in addition to abstract. Section 1 provides some basic information on the past and the present of Albania. Section 2 advances arguments regarding the clash of values. Section 3 examines the post-socialist identities of Albanians, while the last section formulates some conclusions, responding to the addressed questions as well as tackling the role that civic and social education of citizens would play to guarantee that social values feed policies.
The paper “Government as a key duty bearer in transition reforms from socialism to capitalism – t... more The paper “Government as a key duty bearer in transition reforms from socialism to capitalism – the case of Albania”, addresses the way in which the government should exercise its power to ensure that citizens have equal access to social welfare services, enjoying their rights. Albania, like other Central and Eastern European countries experienced the past socialist system, which failed. The failure of the socialist system was the failure of the state: in political, economic and social terms. As far as economic policies are concerned, all data demonstrate the collapse of socialism, because the system was based on inefficiency, which eroded growth. Regardless of the principles of communist regimes adopted in former communist countries’ Constitutions, the past system brought neither equity nor justice, and therefore instead of “social cohesion”, the contradictions among social groups and categories, deepened. After the failure of socialism, Albania embarked on the new path aimed at es...
The " state of welfare " , human rights and the duties of government in post-communist countries ... more The " state of welfare " , human rights and the duties of government in post-communist countries – the case of Albania. Abstract The paper " The State of welfare, human rights and the duties of government in post-communist countries-the case of Albania " , addresses the way in which the government should exercise its power to ensure that citizens have equal access to social welfare services, enjoying their rights. The role of government in post-communist countries has attracted the researchers' attention since the beginning of transformation, from centrally planned to market economy. The cases of transition reforms in Central and Eastern European countries, including Albania have shown that the rapid process from the centralized to a liberal model cannot be realized without a strong and courageous intervention of the government. Albania, like other Central and Eastern European countries experienced the past socialist system, which failed. The failure of the socialist system was the failure of the state: in political, economic and social terms. From a political point of view, it was a failure because the political power of the government was based on the oppression of human rights, dictatorship and authority. As far as economic policies are concerned, all data demonstrate the collapse of socialism, because the system was based on inefficiency, which eroded growth. Regardless the principles of communist regimes adopted in Central and eastern European countries' Constitutions, the Central and Eastern European countries
The integration into global economy is one of the most used topics today. Some view it as a proce... more The integration into global economy is one of the most used topics today. Some view it as a process that is equally beneficial. Others see it as affecting negatively the economies of the poorest countries. The question is to find the appropriate mechanism, which alleviates shocks of globalization, empowers people's participation and provides equal opportunities in the delivery of benefits.
The paper “Social Business under the Youth Guarantee: Experience from the ground in Albania” deal... more The paper “Social Business under the Youth Guarantee: Experience from the ground in Albania” deals with the model of Social Business, piloted in Albania, as a sustainable mode to encourage youth entrepreneurship and employment. The Albanian social business model, named Youth Albanian Parcel Service (YAPS), which employs exclusively disadvantaged youth, is an innovative example of new thinking on tackling social exclusion and reducing poverty. Case analysis of YAPS (Youth Albanian Parcel Service), the successful Social Business Model established almost 20 years ago thanks to a harmonized multidimensional effort of key stakeholders, is used to bring in evidence from the ground to promote the novel concept of using efficiency and in-built sustainability of free markets to generate social wealth. The evidence provided here shows that a new approach is emerging vis-á-vis social policies. A shift in thinking on social policy foresees the emergence of a social capital approach to social ex...
Social work has little tradition as an academic discipline or as a profession in Albania despite ... more Social work has little tradition as an academic discipline or as a profession in Albania despite the high need for well-trained social workers. Social work in Albania had practically not existed in the past, neither before the WWII nor during socialist regime. It was the deep political and economic changes of the post socialist phase and the support of government and non-government stakeholders, like the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Emigration and Ex-Persecuted People as well as the Grand Valley University, Michigan, which paved the way for the establishment from scratch of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Tirana in 1992. Two other schools of Social Work were also established in two public universities, one at the University of Shkodra (2005) and another at the Elbasan University (2004). The Albania's adherence to the Bologna Declaration brought a new reform, initiated in 2005, in which the Departments of Social Work were actively involved and played a critical role to adjust the curricula according to the EU standards.
The paper "Clash of values and the new profiles of Albanians in an endless transition", addresses... more The paper "Clash of values and the new profiles of Albanians in an endless transition", addresses social values that characterize Albanian path of transition from centrally planned to market economy as well as the impact they have on the new identity of Albanians. Albania, one of the smallest and poorest countries in Europe, like other Central and Eastern European countries experienced the past socialist system, which by Constitution was based on "Social Solidarity" and "Equality". Regardless the principles of the past regimes adopted in Central and Eastern European countries, including Albania, the socialist system did not bring neither equality nor solidarity, therefore rather than of "social cohesion", the differences among social groups, later deepened. Although Albania was the last communist country to embark on the transition from socialism to capitalism, Albanians were eager to contribute to bring in the biggest change ever seen in their history. Despite that, the Albanian transition has been painful and turbulent, shocked time after time by profound crisis. While the country is still among the poorest in Europe, Albanians seem confused regarding the values they have to adopt to build a future. Rather than one identity, we identify "three profiles of Albanians", respectively hopeless, rulebreakers and dreamers. This paper, by addressing the outcomes of transition in Albania, focuses on the relevance of social values inherited from the past and their impact on the success of reforms, which undoubtedly brings in the real dilemma of transformation, namely "the abolishment or adoption of values". The findings and conclusions derive from the evidence based analysis of policies, implemented during the last 20 years in Albania and the impact they had on the past, present and the future of the country. The paper is composed of four sections in addition to abstract. Section 1 provides some basic information on the past and the present of Albania. Section 2 advances arguments regarding the clash of values. Section 3 examines the post-socialist identities of Albanians, while the last section formulates some conclusions, responding to the addressed questions as well as tackling the role that civic and social education of citizens would play to guarantee that social values feed policies.
The paper “Government as a key duty bearer in transition reforms from socialism to capitalism – t... more The paper “Government as a key duty bearer in transition reforms from socialism to capitalism – the case of Albania”, addresses the way in which the government should exercise its power to ensure that citizens have equal access to social welfare services, enjoying their rights. Albania, like other Central and Eastern European countries experienced the past socialist system, which failed. The failure of the socialist system was the failure of the state: in political, economic and social terms. As far as economic policies are concerned, all data demonstrate the collapse of socialism, because the system was based on inefficiency, which eroded growth. Regardless of the principles of communist regimes adopted in former communist countries’ Constitutions, the past system brought neither equity nor justice, and therefore instead of “social cohesion”, the contradictions among social groups and categories, deepened. After the failure of socialism, Albania embarked on the new path aimed at es...
The " state of welfare " , human rights and the duties of government in post-communist countries ... more The " state of welfare " , human rights and the duties of government in post-communist countries – the case of Albania. Abstract The paper " The State of welfare, human rights and the duties of government in post-communist countries-the case of Albania " , addresses the way in which the government should exercise its power to ensure that citizens have equal access to social welfare services, enjoying their rights. The role of government in post-communist countries has attracted the researchers' attention since the beginning of transformation, from centrally planned to market economy. The cases of transition reforms in Central and Eastern European countries, including Albania have shown that the rapid process from the centralized to a liberal model cannot be realized without a strong and courageous intervention of the government. Albania, like other Central and Eastern European countries experienced the past socialist system, which failed. The failure of the socialist system was the failure of the state: in political, economic and social terms. From a political point of view, it was a failure because the political power of the government was based on the oppression of human rights, dictatorship and authority. As far as economic policies are concerned, all data demonstrate the collapse of socialism, because the system was based on inefficiency, which eroded growth. Regardless the principles of communist regimes adopted in Central and eastern European countries' Constitutions, the Central and Eastern European countries
The integration into global economy is one of the most used topics today. Some view it as a proce... more The integration into global economy is one of the most used topics today. Some view it as a process that is equally beneficial. Others see it as affecting negatively the economies of the poorest countries. The question is to find the appropriate mechanism, which alleviates shocks of globalization, empowers people's participation and provides equal opportunities in the delivery of benefits.
Uploads
Papers by Arlinda Ymeraj