Author(s): Anastasios-Nikolaos KANELLOPOULOS
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Document type: Journal article
Publication date: June 30, 2026
Pagination: 53-76
Issue/ Volume: 1 (35)/2026
DOI: 10.66766/RISR.2026.1.02
Abstract:
The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, a medieval corpus of customary law originating in
the northern highlands of Albania, has long been considered one of the most enduring and
culturally embedded normative systems in the Balkans. For centuries, the Kanun provided
a framework of order and governance in spaces where state institutions were absent, fragile
or deliberately resisted. In the post-Communist period, however, the Kanun resurfaced in a
dramatically altered socio-political environment, where it encountered two powerful and
transnational forces: organized crime and Salafi-jihadist religious networks.
This paper explores the historical origins of the Kanun, its reactivation in the
post-1991 transition and its role in legitimizing the practices of Albanian organized crime
groups. Using a qualitative analysis of existing scholarly literature and policy reports, the
study examines how customary law interacts with both criminal networks and Salafi
religious movements. It further investigates the complex interactions between this
customary system and the rise of Salafi networks in northern Albania. The analysis argues
that the Kanun operates as a parallel structure of governance, shaping both criminal
practice and religious authority, while complicating state-building and security
consolidation. The findings highlight the broader implications of this dynamic for social
order, governance and counterterrorism in Albania and the wider Western Balkans.
Keywords: Kanun, Albania, Organized Crime, Mafia, Salafi Networks, Terrorism.
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