Socialist People's Republic of Albania

Socialist People's Republic of Albania (Albanian Republika Popullore Socialiste e Shqipërisë) was the official name of Albania during the communist rule between 1976 and 1992. The first name of the state was the People's Republic of Albania (Albanian Republika Popullore e Shqipërisë) which was used from 1946 to 1976. After the adoption of a new constitution in 1976, the state's name was changed to the People's Socialist Republic.

Albania was liberated from the Nazi invasion in November 1944 and a provisional government led by communists ruled the country until the abolishment of the monarchy and the establishment of a people's republic. After the schism with Yugoslavia in 1948, Albania remained closely related with the Soviet Union. Howevever, with Stalin's death, on the occasion of Sino-Soviet split, Enver Hoxha sided with China, his last political supporter before the total isolation period (1978-1992).

From 1978 to 1992, Albania was an extremely isolated country following anti-revisionist views. Enver Hoxha, as well as his successor Ramiz Alia, emphasized the necessity to remain loyal to Marxist-Leninist ideals and conducted his rule in much of a Stalinist way. Albania became an autarky as to the economy, despite a few cultural ties with European countries such as France. It is noted that the Albanian population had steadily increased during this period and the communist government could hardly supply the people with food.

Following bureaucratic struggles, Alia began to moderate his policies, and the SPR of Albania came to an end in 1992 when the single-party constitution was abrogated in order to introduce democratic, political, and economic reforms which led to the current Republic of Albania.

General Secretaries of the Party of Labour of Albania: