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People's Socialist Republic of Albania (Albanian Republika Popullore Socialiste e Shqipërisë) was the official name of Albania during the communist rule between 1946 and 1991. The first name of the state was the People's Republic of Albania 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.
There were high expectations that the people's republic would indeed be the rule of the Albanian people and a chance for prosperity after World War II, but it proved to be a stalinist mechanism used by the dictator Enver Hoxha. 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 (1978-1991).
From 1978 to 1991, Albania was an extremely isolated country. 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.
The PSR of Albania came to an end in 1991 when the single-party constitution was abrogated in order to reintroduce democracy and political pluralism.
List of leaders
General Secretaries of the Party of Labour of Albania:
Chairmen of the Presidium of the People's Assembly: