By Ben Andoni

The phrase is not just a random group of words, but a reflection of how the many-faced terror of today is being managed. And not just the physical terror that causes so much bloodshed, violence, and fear, but terror in its various forms. Terror takes on many faces, but in all cases, it serves those in power to channel, maintain, and reinforce their power. The immense power of President Vučić in Serbia is emboldening militants, allowing them to physically attack protesters in increasingly violent ways. These attacks may seem sporadic and linked to another Balkan capital, but from reports by the neighboring country’s media, one must be concerned about the situation in Skopje as well. The “Invisible Force” in North Macedonia, being shown to Albanians, is striking at the highest institution of survival and historical honor, which is the Albanian language.

In Albania, “modern terror” is connected to various aspects, ranging from the “intimidation” of an opposition that has indeed faced problems with the administration of power, to many directions where the current government of Rama is clashing with its own institutions. It is pointless to repeat the “terror” felt by the public from the land registry, taxes, and ever-changing policies. Even Mr. Rama, in his podcast “Let’s Talk” with economist Selami Xhepa, made a correct observation regarding independent institutions, whose ineffectiveness we feel every moment, almost like “terror.” “The issue with independent institutions is always more problematic the more we grant them independence, because the more we do, the more institutional incompetence becomes visible, not in the sense of political control but in terms of performance in the state system. A classic example is how judges raised their own salaries. That’s the most spectacular case of impotence on the part of everyone else to say no…” And then he went on to explain, but failed to clarify that the face of today’s Albanian state is tied to his three consecutive mandates. The thefts and abuses accused by SPAK, which have brought a large number of socialists before the courts, do not shake Rama! The question then becomes: Why do today’s rulers fail to react, or simply open the way for alternatives to the country’s development without them? Why don’t they recognize “mea culpa”?

There is a major concern regarding how we are coping with the reality today. The calm and normalcy of the public has been lost precisely due to confusing policies and, more than anything else, due to the lack of hope and the unexpected surprises that are given to us at any moment. More troubling is the “terror” of the unexpected, which has manifested in everything from buildings being demolished, unpunished crime, sudden policy changes, agreements with Meloni, and promises and suggestions from the rulers that leave one speechless. Today, Albania and Kosovo remain two of the most pro-EU countries, with over 95% of the people wanting membership! Albania, in parentheses, was once again under observation by OSCE as one of the countries with over 50% nostalgic for the former regime! The question arises: Are the people of the “captured state” the same as those who vote for the PS and PD, facing this reality? Whom should we believe?

“… Do we adore the image or the substance? Which EU do we believe in? The one based on democracy, transparency, efficiency, the rule of law, respect, and integration while preserving identities, or the one based on decision-making monopolies, bureaucracy, paternalistic approaches, nationalist interests, and (mis)use of vetoes in decision-making?” writes Afrim Krasniqi, the director of the Institute for Political Studies on social media. Again, according to the logic of the scholar: If we wanted the land, territory, public space, schools, and books as much as we want the EU, the reality revealed is precisely the greatest pain of people before the terror of the unexpected, which comes from their own rulers.

“Modern terror takes many forms, but what strikes you the most is the ‘unexpected,’ which hits us every election period. Monitor highlights two phenomena that are present whenever there are elections, whether local or general. The first is the increase in money circulating outside banks, and the second is a surge in capital spending from the state budget. Experts identify the first phenomenon as an indirect indicator of money, including informal money, being thrown into the political campaigns. The second is proof of the government’s zeal to show it is working by making visible improvements, mainly road constructions (Monitor, 2025). What OSCE reports on elections in Albania often emphasize is the use of state resources for elections, a problem the media has often highlighted. Nevertheless, the public is faced with a chaos or “modern terror” that comes from the unexpected, where on one side a missing policy is presented as the savior, while on the other, the opposition demands clear rules and regular elections (which is expected and necessary), but often accompanied by the natural concern of citizens that when they come to power, they will do the same. Time has shown that this observation is true. The rhetoric of their people remains concerning.

Thus, we end up with the promises that never stop in Albania and Kosovo, as even in the latter, general elections are approaching. The “modern terror” from promises is troubling, because with their management, rulers show us how “small” we are before their “power,” and how only they know how to manage it. From February 1, Rama’s promises aim to reduce energy prices by about 10% (to 8.5 lek) for households consuming up to 700 kWh per month, according to current officials. On the other hand, the challenger, the Democratic Party, promised that if it comes to power, the price would drop to 7 lek, with cuts for businesses as well (Monitor, 2025). In Kosovo, promises for salaries are reaching challenging figures, from double the amount according to PDK, to even higher numbers by others.

American historian Timothy Snyder, in his 18th essay in his book “On Tyranny,” titled “Keep Calm When the Unthinkable Comes,” presents a situation about direct terror and how his country, the USA, and other powers where autocrats are in charge, manage it, turning their power into an unchallengeable force. Except in the case of Albania, where real terror that causes victims has not been present, we face a modern terror— that of autocrats against our institutions. “For us, the lesson is that our natural fear and sorrow must not be allowed to pave the way for the destruction of our institutions,” writes Snyder. In fact, every day institutions are being weakened and falling, and above all, the stature of the positive individual is crumbling, something Rama himself recognizes with institutions. Therefore, our natural fear is justified by the fact that our sorrow is seen by the rulers as a need for protection on their part… offering us, in exchange, their ability to cut the path for “modern terror” against the unexpected, which is becoming a regular feature of post-’90 Democracy. (Homo Albanicus)