Intelligence Squared Coming of Age at the End of History, with Lea Ypi
Jan 14, 2022
Lea Ypi, a political theory professor at the London School of Economics and author of the memoir 'Free', shares her childhood experiences growing up in Albania during its last Stalinist years. She reflects on the stark contrasts between her early life of community solidarity and the political upheaval around her. Ypi delves into the complexities of identity shaped by her family's history, the transition from communism to capitalism, and her literary influences that shaped her worldview. The conversation is a poignant exploration of freedom, nostalgia, and resilience.
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The Decapitated Stalin
- Lea Ypi, at 11, believed in communist Albania and its ideals.
- Hiding behind a Stalin statue during a protest, she was shocked to find it decapitated, symbolizing a shift in her worldview.
Family Secrets
- In communist Albania, family backgrounds were crucial, and Ypi felt different.
- Her French-speaking grandmother and the lack of Enver Hoxha's portrait in their home hinted at a hidden past.
The Collaborator
- Ypi's family denied relation to a fascist collaborator, a recurring source of shame in history class.
- In 1990, this denial unraveled, revealing the collaborator as her great-grandfather.
