Bajrak

In Albania, a Bajrak (pronounced "bayrak", the Albanian single "r" being akin to the English "r", definite form "bajraku" — "the" "bajrak", plural indefinite "bajrakë" — "bajraks", plural definite "bajrakët" — "the" "bajraks") is a traditional political entity in the Geg-inhabited northern Albanian territories under a single head, the "bajraktar".This term comes from the Turkish word "bayrak" which literally means "standard" or "banner". A Bajraktar is the hereditary leader of a "bajrak" and this term literally means "standard bearer".

As its name and hereditary nature indicates, the "bajrak" was originally imposed by the Ottoman rulers, who entrusted the "bajraktar" with providing fighting men in exchanges for privileges. The "bajraktarë" eventually performed important administrative and judicial duties. The "bajrak" was formed on a territorial, not clanic basis: several small clans could reside on a single "bajrak", while large clans might occupy several "bajrakë".

The communist leader Enver Hoxha tried to abolish the "bajrakë" by liquidating the "bajraktarë" but they still enjoy considerable influence.

The Albanian mafia in Europe, notably Britain, also call "bajrak" a deliberative council formed with several clan leaders. ^{( citation needed )}