The Contribution of the Arbëresh Diaspora to the European Integration Process

This paper examines the role of the Arbëresh (Italo-Albanians) and the Albanian national issue throughout different historical periods, primarily during the National Renaissance, and their evolution over time, leading to cooperation with Italy—their second homeland—paving the way for the European integration of the Arbëresh diaspora in Italy and Albanians in Albania. Two peoples, separated by the same Adriatic Sea, have successfully coexisted while maintaining strong ties of friendship from early historical periods until today. The Arbëresh are an ethnic Albanian community living in Italy, having migrated from Albania in the 15th century following the Ottoman conquest. They originated from Albania, the historically Albanian region of Epirus, and the numerous Albanian communities in Attica and Morea (present-day Greece). They settled in Italy between the 15th and 18th centuries, after the death of the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti (Skanderbeg) and the progressive Ottoman occupation of Arbëria and, more broadly, all former Byzantine Empire territories in the Balkans. During this period, Skanderbeg and many other Arbëresh decided to leave their homeland with their families. They settled in southern Italy, where they were warmly welcomed by the Italian people. Over the years, this relationship strengthened, based on the respect Italians had for Skanderbeg, whose legacy was often compared to that of the Italian hero Giuseppe Garibaldi. Garibaldi, known as the "Hero of Two Worlds" due to his military endeavors in South America and Europe, played a crucial role in Italian unification. Supported by Italy, Skanderbeg and the Arbëresh found stability in their new homeland, forming their own communities. The connection between the two peoples grew stronger during the Italian Risorgimento, when a large Arbëresh community participated in Garibaldi's battles for Italian unification in 1860. Received: 9 January 2025 / Accepted: 5 March 2025 / Published: 25 March 2025