This work reconstructs the history of schooling in Albania, focusing on the spread and teaching of the Italian language from the late nineteenth century to the present day. Beginning with the establishment of the first ecclesiastical schools during the final stages of Ottoman rule in the nineteenth century, it goes on to provide an in-depth analysis of the attempts at indirect Italianisation by liberal Italy in the early twentieth century, as well as the forced Italianisation imposed by the fascists during their twenty-year rule. The text then moves on to examine the 'forced de-Italianisation' of culture and education under Enver Hoxha during the forty years of real socialism, before concluding with an exploration of Italian-led international cultural cooperation projects following the fall of the regime in 1991. The work reflects on how 'diffused Italianness' has long been transformed into linguistic knowledge for many Albanians. It goes back in history to understand the events that have linked, and continue to link, the two sides of the Adriatic. This is despite the fact that, unlike in the past, the Italian language is no longer the only gateway to communication when looking towards an international horizon.

Vito Saracino is a Research Fellow at the Fondazione Gramsci di Puglia. He is a scholar of Media Studies, with a particular focus on the concept of cultural hegemony in the world of mass media, exploring historical, sociological, and pedagogical aspects. He has previously served as Adjunct Professor of Social History of Media, Contemporary History, and Policies for the Valorization of Cultural Heritage, and as a Postdoctoral Fellow for the project “Local Information as Social Construction” at the University of Foggia. His research traverses the intersections of history, education, and intercultural dialogue, with a special emphasis on the educational and cultural connections between Italy and Albania.

For Palgrave Macmillan, the author has already published A Century of the Media in Italian-Albanian Cultural Relationships (2024). His research on Albania has been published internationally in English, Italian, Albanian, and Romanian.