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Extreme Isolation And State Paranoia
- Albania was unusually isolated during the Cold War, positioning it outside both Soviet and Western influence.
- Enver Hoxha's hardline Stalinism produced extreme measures like nationwide bunker-building that drained resources.
King Zog's Exile In Luxury
- John O'Farrell recounts King Zog living in exile in the Ritz and Buckinghamshire after losing the throne.
- The hosts use this to illustrate Zog's odd status as a self-declared monarch rather than a hereditary royal.
Democracy Without Infrastructure
- Albania's sudden turn to multi-party politics was hindered by lack of experience and infrastructure.
- Parties struggled with basics like constitutions, leaflets and candidate organisation during early 1990s elections.