[box type=”shadow” align=”” class=”” width=””]Alban Dafa
Researcher[/box]
Alban Dafa joined the IDM team as a researcher on governance and security. He had previously served in the Albanian Naval Force as a patrol boat commander, navigator, and junior hydrographer. During his time in the Albanian navy, he was engaged in NATO standardization programs and in self-initiated efforts to expand the scope and capacities of the Albanian Hydrographic Service.
Alban graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science (concentrating in International Relations). In 2015 he was able to pursue his postgraduate studies through the Chevening Scholarship program. He graduated in 2016 from the University of Exeter with a Master of Arts in Politics and International Relations of the Middle East.
Alban’s research interests include social movements, organizational reform and culture, and Albanian foreign and security policy. He is a keen reader of the scholarship on International Relations theory, Great Power politics, and Middle East politics.
Publications:
Dafa, A. and Zweers, W. “Beyond ‘strict and fair’: The need for increased Albanian-Dutch cooperation to fight transnational organized crime ” https://idmalbania.org/download/8054/.
Bino, B., Qirjazi, R. & Dafa, A. (2020). Civil Society Participation in Decision-Making in Albania. Institute for Democracy and Mediation. https://idmalbania.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CSO-Participation-in-Decision-Making-in-Albania.pdf.
Dafa, A. (2019). “The EU focuses disproportionately on the rule of law in the Western Balkans.” (Finnish). Ulkopolitiikka. https://www.ulkopolitiikka.fi/lehti/4-2019/eu-keskittyy-lansi-balkanillaoikeusvaltiokehitykseen-alueellisen-yhteistyon-kustannuksella/.
Dafa, A. (2019). “Europeanization blowback: the stampede to join the EU and the Albanian institutional crisis.” Institute for Democracy and Mediation. http://idmalbania.org/europeanization-blowbackthe-stampede-to-join-the-eu-and-the-albanian-institutional-crisis-june-2019/.
Dafa, A. (2019). “Enhancing the security of future EU gas supplies through the Albanian gateway.” Institute for Democracy and Mediation. http://idmalbania.org/enhancing-thesecurity-of-future-eu-gas-supplies-through-the-albanian-gateway/.
Dafa, A. (2019). “Unholy Alliance: Transnational Organized Criminal Groups and Religious Radicals in Albania.” In S. Ducaru, I. Niţu, & M. Margvelashvili (Eds.), Black Swan Events on NATO’s Eastern Flank (pp. 7-10). Amsterdam and Clifton: IOS Press.