This article will treat the present-day challenge of overcoming a heritage of totalitarian culture, developed during 50 years of isolation under one of the most severe communist regimes in the world, with which Albanian culture is currently presented. After 14 years of post communist transition, a deep crisis surrounding Albanian cultural identity still looms amid a chaotic cultural and moral environment. Albania's culture under communism was an instrument used for 50 years by the regime to wield power over and isolate the Albanian people. Unfortunately, this culture seemed (and, in fact, still seems) unable to provide Albanians with the tools needed to approach and adapt to their current reality created by the opening up of the country. This historically informed Albanian culture simply seems capable of recycling its old patriarchal, nationalist and communist traits in an attempt to function under the constraints of the new state, within new cultural boundaries and in its new relationship with the rest of the world.