A multicultural environment – A major development and integration factor

Historical evidence highlights that regions characterized by the convergence and cohabitation of diverse cultures serve as primary drivers of development. Nowadays, the southern region of Albania stands as a vivid and enduring example of this phenomenon throughout history. Arguments that speak of integrative and at the same time differentiating processes in terms of cultural and ethnic identity include mythology and historical milestones such as Dodona, Pyrrhus of Epirus and Alexander the Great, to figures like Ali Pasha Tepelena and cultural hub of Voskopoja. Historically analysing, the establishment of the peace institutions and good understanding such as Bektashism, the ideology of national renaissance movement, are examples of differentiating analogy of the multicultural reality. The communist regime in Albania, the geographical isolation, the physical and cultural infliction resulting in the loss of contacts and communication with the world, the climate of ethnocentrism and the consequences in the way of judging and assessing oneself in relation to others and the opening of the country and mass emigration are other historical aspects. In this sense, main objective of this manuscript is the analysis of the positive and negative consequences with assimilative influence and the opposite:- juxtaposition to strengthen ethnocentrism.