ABSTRACT
This chapter explores 'Albanian' in the narrow sense, to denote citizens of the Republic of Albania and all that pertains to that state. Nation-building project is nevertheless a huge success at the symbolic level (IPSOS survey). IPSOS survey Nation-building in West Balkans. Albania referred to as 'IPSOS-A' with the number of the question under discussion added at the end. The chapter explains the Research Council of Norway and the Institute for Comparative Research in Human Culture for the financial support which made possible the gathering of qualitative data and fieldwork. It focuses on the internal differences that may not have a divisive potential. Contemporary Albanian nation-building rests on a set of myths about the nation, its neighbours and its relationship to the world at large. Albanian ethnicity in Albania has not been demarcated negatively against other ethnic groups in the country. A fundamental challenge to the Albanian nation-building project has been the religious diversity among the population.
