Causes, Effects, and Possible Solutions to Blood Feuding in Albania

The goal of this presentation is to inform the audience about the causes, effects, and possible solutions of blood feuding in Albania, which has resulted in the deaths of approximately 12,100 people since 1991. Albania contains one of the few remaining cultures that is still partaking in blood feuding. Blood feuding began in the 1600s and resumed after the fall of communism in the absence of a strong governing body. The Kanun sets forth the rules of blood feuding, but they are not always followed as they were intended. Cultural values influence the course of blood feuding and make it very difficult to end. As blood feuding continues, the threat of violence causes children to grow up unable to leave their own homes and traps fathers inside unable to support their families. This culture of isolation and fear has detrimental effects on the mental health of the individual and the structure of the family. Blood feuding also affects the community, which suffers loss of infrastructure, lack of economic stability, and a generation growing up unable to access education. A number of solutions are currently being implemented in order to address the problem of blood feuding, including strengthening the government, tutoring children trapped at home by blood feuding, and educating the families on other ways to end blood feuds besides revenge killing. To conclude, we will provide an overview of the biblical process and value of reconciliation as it relates to this issue.