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Whenever artists and intellectuals remain silent, fear speaks.

2026-07-13 08:23:00, Opinione Ardi Stefa

The influence of public figures on political debate is a well-known feature in Western democracies.

In the United States, in France, in Italy or Britain, artists and intellectuals are not afraid to take sides. Some support a candidate, some oppose him. Some raise their voices about war, racism, freedom of speech, immigration or justice.

In France, hundreds of writers and philosophers sign manifestos on issues they consider vital to the republic.

In Italy, public debate takes place not only in parliament, but also in theaters, universities, and newspapers.

Intellectuals have a public function in shaping civic debate. They may be wrong, they may be biased, they may be criticized, but they refuse to be silent or invisible. They understand that art is not just aesthetics; thought is not just words, but is, first and foremost, civic consciousness.

What about in Albania?

Where are our "great" artists? Where are the actors, singers, directors, writers, professors, and academics? Where are the intellectuals when society is divided and polarized, when the citizen is left voiceless, when freedom of speech is put to the test, when the government must be criticized or the opposition must be held accountable?

Many of them choose silence, despite the fact that they should be the conscience of society. If conscience is silent, power no longer needs to censor anyone. It wins with the consent and contribution of those who should challenge it.

And silence is not always wisdom, but the most elegant form of surrender to evil, which triumphs also because there are people who decide not to speak.

It's not even neutrality. It's often calculation. It's fear of losing a project, a festival, a contract, a show, a special pension, a job, a benefit from the government. It's self-censorship, which in Albania is linked to political and economic pressures.

Jean-Paul Sartre said: “Silence is also a choice.” In Albania, silence has become a profitable profession.

So: Do ??we still have artists and intellectuals, or a generation of hired artists and intellectuals?

Or quasi-artists, who only know how to sing the anthem of money?

Semi-intellectuals, who only speak when they're not risking anything?

Half-artists and half-intellectuals for hire, who have talent but have lost their courage and character?

And not artists at all, not intellectuals at all, because they have chosen comfort over truth and have given up on the most important mission of art and thought: "To disturb the authorities and awaken society!"?

Time has not remembered the artists who remained silent, nor has it erected monuments to the courtiers. It has remembered and honored those who stood up to the "court", those who paid the price of free speech and conscience.

Maybe our problem is not that we have few artists or few intellectuals.

Perhaps our problem is that we have too many famous people with very little social and civic conscience, who contribute to the creation of spectres and the consolidation of fear.

And a frightened, spectator-filled society is the most beautiful gift for any power that will not be challenged./ CNA