Framing Fear, Unmaking Rights: Albania and the Global Machinery of Anti-Gender Ideology Article Using Albania as a case study, this article examines the emergence of a domestic anti-gender discourse, its connections to global networks, and the disparities between formal legal protections and lived realities. It also highlights the growing resistance, both local and international, fighting to hold the line against democratic backsliding. Ultimately, the article invites policymakers, activists, and legal professionals to reevaluate what is at stake. The fight against anti-gender ideology is not only about specific rights or communities; it is about the democratic commitment to human dignity, autonomy, and equality. Can we afford to treat this as a fringe concern when the consequences are anything but? By Dea Nini
A Decade of the Congress of Young Europeans The Congress of Young Europeans has grown into one of the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s most dynamic initiatives for youth participation and cross-border dialogue in Europe. Its history reflects not only the evolving challenges facing the continent, but also the commitment of young people to address them through critical debate, collaboration, and action. While the themes vary each year, the congress always revolves around a shared goal: advancing a more just, democratic, and ecological Europe with the active participation of its youth.
Congress of Young Europeans 2025 The congress is part of a long-standing biannual initiative organized by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, in collaboration with the Federation of Young European Greens and the Green European Foundation. It is held in a different European city each time. The 9th edition will take place in Tirana, from 9–12 October, under the theme “The Ends of Europe.” Find out more.
A summit in Albania, a silence on the Western Balkans Commentary As Europe seeks to redefine itself, it was Ukraine that dominated international discussions at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit—despite the fact that, for the first time, the event was hosted in Albania, a Western Balkan country. Very little was said about the region itself, and even that only on the media sidelines. By Alba Cela
Anti-gender mobilizations in North Macedonia: A transnational tool-kit for domestic actors against gender equality and LGBTQI+ rights Article Moving forward, it is imperative to strengthen mechanisms for safeguarding the rights and safety of those targeted by anti-gender mobilizations. By Irena Cvetkovikj
RISO Printing Lab RISO printing is celebrated for its bold colors, unique textures, and eco-friendly, resource-efficient process. These qualities make it perfect for producing low-cost, serialized publications. Artists, activists, and independent publishers worldwide have long appreciated RISO's potential, and now it is being harnessed in Tirana too, as a collaborative tool for artistic and political engagement.
Albanian general elections 2025: Out with the old, in with the same? Commentary On 11 May 2025, Albania will hold parliamentary elections, the first since officially opening EU accession negotiations. While some significant changes mark this election—most notably, diaspora voting and partial candidate list openness—major systemic factors remain unchanged. The Socialist Party (SP), in power since 2013, appears poised for an unprecedented fourth mandate. By Alba Cela
A vanishing line: the digital sphere and the increasing singularity of state and party Commentary The app ‘Aktiv1st’ is tracking the social media activity of Socialist Party members in Albania and ranking them according to engagement levels. This is just the most recent episode in a process of dramatic erosion of the lines that separate party and state By Alba Cela
Foreign Policy of Small States “Understanding the Foreign Policy Behavior of the Balkans from a Small States Perspective" is an academic workshop focused on the foreign policy dynamics of small states in the Western Balkans. With a thematic focus on small states and their foreign policy, as well as case studies from the Western Balkans, the event brought together leading academics whose work intersects with EU and Balkan politics.
Where do we stand? The overlook of LGBTIQ+ rights across the globe Analysis Feminist and LGBTIQ+ issues are almost as diverse as the communities themselves, yet both movements are discriminated against, marginalized, often attacked, and violated, simply because of their non-conformity to conventional and hegemonic notions of gender. By Joanna Barelkowska
