Consensus and Conflict: The Socioeconomic Challenge Facing Sustainable Tourism Development in Southern Albania

This paper analyses consensus and conflict within community-based development and their implications for sustainable tourism development. Using evidence from an EU LIEN/PHARE programme for integrated rural development in rural southern Albania during 1995–98, it demonstrates the falsity of the cosy notion that local communities are cohesive entities with harmonious social relations, able to access national and international power structures provided only that they get the right support from foreign donors and NGOs. In the context of project experience, this paper explores the problems that have arisen and concludes with some recommendations, cognisant of the continuing Balkan crisis.