The Role of the Congress of Manastir in the Formation of National Identity through the Language

Bulgarian Historical Review, 53 (2025), No. 2, pp. 80-108
DOI: https://doi.org/10.71069/BHR2.25.ECAPAC04

Ethem Çeku, Anton Panchev, Ali Caka

Assoc. Prof. Ethem Ceku, Dr. - University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Kosove, 10000 Prishtine, George Bush, 31. ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4862-9874, E-mail: ethem.ceku@uni-pr.edu
Anton Panchev, Ph.D. - Beijing International Studies University, School of European Languages, China, 100024 Beijing, № 1 DingFuZhuang NanLi, ChaoYang District. ORCID ID: 0009-0006-9384-6268, E-mail: antonpanchev@gmail.com , antonpanchev@bisu.edu.cn
Prof. Ali Caka, Dr. Sc.- Alb-Science Institute, Kosove, 10000 Prishtine, Bajram Bahtiri, 56. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7759-3535. E-mail: ali.caka@gmail.com

Abstract: The Congress of Manastir (1908) represents a pivotal moment in the construction of Albanian national identity, as it achieved the long-sought unification of the Albanian alphabet. This study investigates the Congress as a crucial event that not only standardized the written language but also served as a powerful response to internal fragmentation and external domination. Drawing on archival materials, including the protocols and resolutions of the Congress, as well as a broad range of scholarly literature, the research analyzes the role of language as a tool for cultural and political consolidation. Particular attention is given to the pressures exerted by the Young Turk regime and other regional forces seeking to curb Albanian autonomy. Methodologically, the study employs historical analysis and critical content examination to demonstrate how the Congress enabled linguistic unity and fostered national consciousness. The findings reveal that the Congress of Manastir was not merely a linguistic reform but a strategic act of national selfassertion, positioning the alphabet as a symbol of resistance and a catalyst for the advancement of Albanian education, identity, and political agency.

Keywords: Congress of Manastir, Albanian National Identity, Alphabet Reform, Young Turks, Cultural Resistance.

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