THOSE WHO WORK AND THOSE WHO PRETEND

The individual who merely “pretends” and performs a role in a society where values are measured more through perception than through actual results manages to create the illusion of great success. In many cases, simulation is regarded as more important than real work. And this is no coincidence. It stems from the absence of measurement indexes and from the lack of a genuine culture of evaluation, what modern concepts define as assessment. Such evaluation must exist both conceptually and in practical reality.

Written by Lorik Idrizi

One phenomenon deeply embedded in the Balkan mentality is improvisation, emerging as a consequence of the absence of standards or norms that should be followed automatically. Across the Balkans, much of everyday functioning operates at the level of improvisation. Yet the real problem begins the moment this improvisation starts to be perceived as more important than substance and the work itself.

This phenomenon has layered itself across many spheres of life, from public administration, education, and business, to civil society and politics. Not in the sense of public relations or creating visibility for the work being done, because that is important in communication with taxpayers and society. Rather, this concerns a deeper shift in which everything has been reduced to form, while substance is increasingly abandoned.

The individual who merely “pretends” and performs a role in a society where values are measured more through perception than through actual results succeeds in creating the illusion of remarkable achievement. In many cases, performance and simulation are valued more highly than genuine work. This is not accidental. It is the product of the absence of clear systems of measurement and of a true culture of evaluation. Without them, societies lose the ability to distinguish between authentic professionalism and mere improvisation.

Without clear evaluation mechanisms, it becomes difficult to differentiate real professionals from those who simply imitate competence. Just as technical discipline and respect for schedules should be measured, equal importance must also be given to ideas, initiative, creativity, and the broader dimensions of work. A particularly interesting example was the vetting process within SPAK in Albania. Although far from perfect, one symbolic aspect stood out: the inclusion of anthropologist Përparim Kabo in the evaluation process. This carried important meaning, because professional integrity does not arise solely from technical expertise, but above all from human integrity, cultural depth, and the spirit of the individual.

A professional, before being merely technically capable, must also be a person of integrity and added value to society. For this reason, evaluation should not be confined only to administrative norms or the mechanical observance of rules, important as they are. It must also encompass ethics, social responsibility, creativity, and the real contribution an individual brings to institutions and society as a whole.

In such a reality, work is often perceived not through concrete results or impact, but through superficial elements: appearance, grandiose language, and fabricated narratives. And so, instead of elevating substance, this culture of improvisation is frequently encouraged, gradually transforming itself into a norm of success and presenting itself as a legitimate “social model.”