The 1958 Expropriation of 13 Villas in Tirana: How Albania’s Communist Regime Legalized Privilege in the “Bllok”

The 1958 Expropriation of 13 Villas in Tirana: How Albania’s Communist Regime Legalized Privilege in the “Bllok”

In the spring of 1958, the Albanian communist regime carried out one of its most symbolic acts of authoritarian control: the expropriation of 13 private villas in Tirana. The decision, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Beqir Balluku, was not a routine administrative measure. It was a political act designed to silence dissent, legitimize the luxurious lifestyle of the ruling elite, and demonstrate the absolute power of the state over private proper…