# Cultural and Ideological Revolution (1966–1969)

URL: https://allhistories.com/albania/timeline/1966-cultural-and-ideological-revolution
Location: Tirana
Themes: Key Events

By the mid-1960s the loss of Soviet aid had damaged the Albanian economy, party discipline was weakening and Hoxha feared the growth of a privileged bureaucracy. Inspired by Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution in China, the leadership decided to mobilise the population against "remnants of the past". On 4 March 1966 the Party of Labour issued an Open Letter to the people denouncing bureaucratism. Some 15,000 administrative posts were abolished, officials were sent to work in the countryside or factories, high salaries were cut and income tax was abolished. Military ranks were removed from the army and political commissars restored. Hoxha's speech of 6 February 1967 launched the most radical phase: young activists and students were sent across the country to campaign against religion, traditional customs, blood feuds and the subordination of women, and to put up wall posters criticising local officials. The campaign, whose most aggressive phase lasted until about 1969, greatly increased the party's control over everyday life. It led directly to the closure of all places of worship in 1967, a new wave of collectivisation and a more intense personality cult around Hoxha.

## Why it matters
The Cultural and Ideological Revolution reshaped Albanian society and laid the ground for the ban on religion.

Ruler at the Time: [Haxhi Lleshi](https://allhistories.com/albania/rulers/haxhi-lleshi)

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Albania: Mehmet Shehu (Party of Labour of Albania)
First Secretary of the Communist Party of Albania / Party of Labour of Albania: Enver Hoxha (Party of Labour of Albania)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Cultural and Ideological Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_and_Ideological_Revolution)
- [RFE/RL](https://www.rferl.org/)
- [Wikipedia — Communist Albania (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Socialist_Republic_of_Albania)