Pushteti

Pushteti is an Albanian noun meaning "the power" or "the government," referring to political authority and the institutions that exercise it. It can denote the state apparatus as a whole or specify branches of government in discourse.

Etymology and scope: The word stems from the root pusht- meaning to dominate or rule; pushteti marks a definite sense of authority in Albanian. It is commonly used to describe who holds authority within a state, how power is exercised, and how legitimacy is conferred and contested.

Political context: In public debate and academic writing, pushteti appears in discussions about the balance between different branches of government, the rights and duties of rulers, and the mechanisms of accountability and the rule of law. It can refer to both formal institutions and the broader capacity to influence policy and decision-making.

Historical context: In Albania and Albanian-speaking regions, the term has been used to describe governing authority across different periods, including the era of centralized state control. Since the 1990s, it is used in more pluralistic and constitutional discussions of governance and legitimacy.

Related concepts: political power, state power, government, governance, separation of powers.

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