Identity Convergence

Abstract

In treating the topic of Albanian identity, the approach of nonscientific publications dominated earlier. Such an approach has kept the identity issue in a status quo position, by strengthening the traditional cultural and social standard. The romantic, folkloristic concept of interpretation was tried in order to interpret the identity crisis as a loss of traditional values, such as the family, tribe, provinciality, regional forms of language, and so on, and not as a process of growing convergence, alienation, resentment, etc. There has not been realistic acknowledgement of the fact that the national identity is a legal-political category, while on the other hand it is closely linked to the existence of a cultural community. One’s national identity is expressed through common institutions, duties, and responsibilities of all members of a group. The thesis also treats some of the major sociological-political approaches, by using the identity of the American nation as a reference.