The role of the Albanian state in protecting Albanians in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1920–1939)

This article analyses the Albanian state’s diplomatic, political and humanitarian strategies in response to the repression and colonization of Albanians within the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1920–1939). Drawing on archival sources and contemporary diplomatic records, it argues that Albania pursued a pragmatic policy that combined symbolic protest, humanitarian aid and international advocacy to protect its ethnic kin beyond its borders. Despite structural fragility and limited international leverage, successive Albanian governments worked to expose Yugoslav atrocities and support displaced populations. The study demonstrates how Albania’s diplomacy helped preserve a sense of national continuity and laid the groundwork for later developments in regional minority protection.