The modern Republic of Turkey has been hesitant to embrace its Ottoman past for nearly three quarters of a century following the years of its foundation. During the Ottoman period, majority of the people were living an Islamic lifestyle under the guidance of traditional Islamic shari’a law. This situation was challenging to the modern, secular ideas of the young republic. In order to overcome this problem, the new secular state controlled religious affairs and abolished the institution of Caliphate. Morever, founders of the modern Turkey created a National Assembly and which served as the early steps to the representative democracy. There were series of reforms on the education, military system, women’s rights and general dress code for public places. However, although Ataturk and his friends’ contribution to the Turkish modernization is undeniable, it should be made clear that his ideas were inspired both by the realities of his time and more importantly the reforms of the late Ottoman period. Thus, contrary to what primary level education which is taught in state schools in Turkey suggests, it is hard to claim that he singlehandedly invented all the ideas and reforms concerning the Turkish modernization. In fact, the idea of Turkish modernization long predates the foundation of the secular republic. There had been reforms from top to down during the nineteenth century. These were followed by a new group of intellectuals who were influenced by the ideas of Enlightenment and French Revolution who were called ‘Young Turks’. The Young Turk movement, which was emerged among the students of higher learning schools of Istanbul attracted many other members of the society. The members of the movement were united in their opposition to the personal rule of the Sultan and created the backbone of the modern democratic reforms happened during early years of the modern Turkish Republic (Hanioglu, 2011).
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Ottoman Empire at the turn of the 19th century
Nineteenth Century Reforms in the Ottoman Empire
The Young Turk Revolution
Conclusion
Research Objective and Themes
This research paper analyzes the historical continuum of Turkish modernization, specifically investigating how nineteenth-century Ottoman reforms and the ideological contributions of the Young Turk movement laid the essential foundations for the subsequent secular Republic of Turkey.
- The socio-political decline and reform efforts of the late Ottoman Empire.
- The emergence and ideological evolution of the Young Turk movement.
- The 1908 Young Turk Revolution and its impact on constitutional governance.
- A critical comparison between the Young Turk era and the later Kemalist regime.
- The role of historical narrative in shaping the modern Turkish national identity.
Excerpt from the Book
Nineteenth Century Reforms in the Ottoman Empire
From late eighteenth century onwards, self questioning and doubt became popular among the Ottoman elites. The humiliating defeats against Western powers and economic crisis made the Ottomans to understand that they were overcome by the ‘infidels’ who were mastered in technology and science. They realized that if they would not reform the country’s administrative and military system, the Empire would sooner or later collapse. These concerns resulted in the introduction of the idea of modernization to the Ottoman Empire. Although it setting boundaries and making a clear definition of the term ‘modernization’ is hard, it is generally referred to the Empire’s turning its face to the West. As Barkey argues:
“In the Ottoman context, modernity has mostly had been used to characterize a reformist and modern center pitted agains the conservative and traditional regional actors” (Barkey, 2008).
Selim III (1789-1807), was the pioneer of Ottoman modernization. He aimed to re-organize the institutitons and policies of the Empire which marked the beginning of the modernization of the Empire. Military reforms were the priorities as Ottomans aimed to defend their lands against technologically superior enemies and if possible, expand their territories to the size of country’s golden years. Thus, Selim III founded ‘ The Royal College of Naval Engineering’ and established an army engineering school. He hired many French instructors and set French as the language of instruction in these academies. He switched the foreign policy of the Empire from isolationism to the principle of engagement as he believed having powerful allies would help the country to be able to have a say on diplomacy. He reformized the tax system and tried to create a healthy economy by attempts on balancing the trade deficit. Moreover, he changed the administrative structure by creating a provincial structure and assigned a vizier to govern each of them (Hanioglu, 2008).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the challenges faced by the modern Republic of Turkey in reconciling its secular identity with its Ottoman past and establishes the paper's goal of re-examining the roots of modernization.
The Ottoman Empire at the turn of the 19th century: This section surveys the economic and military decline of the Ottoman Empire, framing it as the "Sick Man of Europe" and discussing the loss of central authority and territory.
Nineteenth Century Reforms in the Ottoman Empire: This chapter explores the early modernization attempts led by Sultans like Selim III and Mahmud II, as well as the Tanzimat edicts intended to stabilize the empire through administrative and legal reform.
The Young Turk Revolution: This section details the rise of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), their transition to constitutional governance, and the subsequent consolidation of power leading up to WWI.
Conclusion: This part summarizes the legacy of the Young Turks, evaluating their success in institutionalization while noting the ideological inconsistencies that separated them from the later, more radical Kemalist state-building project.
Keywords
Ottoman Empire, Turkish Modernization, Young Turks, Committee of Union and Progress, Tanzimat, Secularism, Reform, Ataturk, 1908 Revolution, Nationalism, Constitutional Monarchy, Imperialism, History, Politics, Intellectuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the historical roots of modern Turkey, arguing that the modernization process began with nineteenth-century Ottoman reforms and the activities of the Young Turk movement rather than starting solely with the establishment of the secular republic.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The core themes include Ottoman decline, the transition from traditional Islamic governance to Western-inspired reforms, the ideological shift of the Young Turk movement, and the comparative analysis of these reforms against later Kemalist policies.
What is the core research question?
The paper explores how nineteenth-century institutional reforms and the political ideology of the Young Turks contributed to the modernization process that eventually peaked under the rule of Ataturk.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The work utilizes a historical-analytical approach, conducting a survey of socio-political conditions and drawing upon established historiography to assess the impact of previous modernization attempts.
What does the main body of the work address?
It covers the state of the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century, the specific modernization efforts of various Sultans, the emergence of the Committee of Union and Progress, and the implications of the 1908 Revolution.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include Ottoman Empire, Turkish Modernization, Young Turks, Committee of Union and Progress, Tanzimat, Secularism, and Constitutional Monarchy.
How does the author characterize the official historical narrative in Turkey?
The author argues that current educational narratives in Turkey are hypocritical because they label the Young Turks as traitors while elevating Ataturk as a solitary father of the nation, ignoring the necessary historical continuity between the two.
What role did the military play in the Young Turk movement?
The military was crucial; the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) drew significant strength from army officers, particularly the 3rd Army, which served as a force for modern political change and suppression of reactionary opposition.
What is the significance of the "millet" system discussed in the paper?
The "millet" system categorized subjects by religion, providing a degree of autonomy for non-Muslim groups, but it eventually hindered the development of a unified national identity as the empire faced modern ethnic and independence pressures.
- Citation du texte
- Can Esen (Auteur), 2011, Early Steps to the foundation of Modern Turkey: Nineteenth Century Reforms and the Young Turk Revolution, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/184874
