OTTOMAN MODERNNİZATİON AND MOVEMENTS OF THOUGHT Maya Saat* 1. Ottoman Modernization Ottoman Empire has experienced the periods of rising, stagnation, and disintegration during its empery. After the period of rising, in the period of stagnation, the executives have flurried about future of the empire and started to search for solutions. Their aim was to make the empire as powerful as before. Their best solution was a ready solution –Westernization- because there haven’t been enough and quality staff and internal dynamics in Ottoman Empire. French Revolution in 1789 is regarded as the beginning of the period of innovator sultans in Ottoman Empire (Georgeon, 2006). During III. Sultan Selim’s empery, he has brought the first radical changes in fields of military, administrative, financial and economic. He has brought New Regulation (Nizam-ı Cedid). He has changed the guild of janissaries (yeniçeri ocağı) into a modern army. He has tried to destroy ulama’s influences and tried to catch European improvements in sense of science and art. These innovation efforts have gained continuity in the period of II. Sultan Mahmut’s empery. It has become Sultan’s duty to make innovations that the empire has needed. In 1080, on Sultan’s request, Anatolian and Rumelia governors have come together in Istanbul and have tried to find solutions to end that bad situation of the empire. At the end of this meeting, they have signed Charter of Alliance (Sened-i İttifak). Sultan has limited his limitless power through this text. This kind of reforms and westernization movements have gone on in Ottoman Empire. However, those reforms were not a result of the civil movement. They have occurred in the lead of the governors. The aim of those reforms was to save independence and collectivity of the state. Those reforms were tried to stop by the guild of janissaries and ulamas. *Ege Üniversitesi, Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyoloji Bölümü Lisans Öğrencisi 1.1. Reforms in the 17th century Reforms in the 17th century were mostly in the field of military, administrative, financial. In this century, the dominance of West was not accepted by Ottoman Empire. In addition, those reforms were tried to accept to people by the state. 1.2. Reforms in the 18th century Reforms in the 18th century were mostly in the field of technical, education and culture. The dominance of West was accepted by Ottoman Empire for the first time. Moreover, in this century, the reforms have gained continuity. 1.3. Reforms in the 19th century Reforms in the 19th century were extended across all fields. In this century, the central authority of Ottoman Empire has become weak because of Charter of Alliance (Sened-i İttifak). Several rights were given to non-muslims not to lose land in Balkans. In this period, the trade was under non-muslims control, moreover West trade in Middle East was protected by capitulations that provide free and unlimited transition. 1.3.1. Tanzimat Reform Era (Tanzimat Dönemi) (1839-1876) Tanzimat Reform Era has started after the Imperial Edict of Reorganization (Tanzimat Fermanı). Fundamental rights were guaranteed in black and white through this rescript. In this Era, understanding of the rule of law was adopted. There was not the role of the public in this rescript. It was the first stage of transition to democracy and constitutionalism. The most important innovation that it has brought was idea of that there was legal power on every power. In this era, European style legal rules were adopted. One of the most important aims of this rescript was preventing European countries to involve internal affairs of Ottoman Empire. 1.3.2. Edict of Reform (Islahat Fermanı) (1856) The Imperial Edict of Reorganization wasn’t found sufficient, and Edict of Reform (Islahat Fermanı) has been announced in 1856. Rights of minorities and non-muslim were expanded through this edict. This edict was essentially a repetition of the Imperial Edict of Reorganization, explaining and expanding it. Edict of Reform was under the international control because one of its copies was in Paris Treaty, 1856. 1.3.3. I. Constitutional Period (I. Meşrutiyet Dönemi) (1876) After the declaration of constitution, the citizens have gotten right to vote and to be voted for the first time. It was also the first parliament system in Ottoman Empire. Minorities have had right of representation. Parliament has consisted of the upper house (ayan meclisi) (26 people) that Sultan has chosen and the 119 legislators that were chosen by the public. After 1877-1878 Russian War, II. Sultan Abdülhamit has abolished the parliament and brought authoritarianism for 30 years. 1.3.4. II. Constitutional Period (II. Meşrutiyet Dönemi) (1908) After the Party Union and Progress (İttihat ve Tekatti Partisi) has been established, and intelligentsias have struggled secretly, II. Sultan Abdülhamit has had to re-announced the constitutionalism. In 1909, the first uprising against the regime has occurred, “the 31 March Incident”. It has been thought that there had been II. Sultan Abdülhamit’s role in that incident, and he has been deposed. V. Sultan Mehmet Reşat has been enthroned after II. Abdülhamit. 1.4. A Short Discussion French Revolution (1789), 1830 and 1848 revolutions in Europe have affected on the democratization of Ottoman Empire. The innovation movements have started in the empery of II. Sultan Mahmut (1808-1839). After II. Mahmut, Sultan Abdülmecid’s intention to continue those innovations shows a great chance in Ottoman state structure. Western innovations have been followed after the period of II. Mahmut. Tanzimat Reform Era (Tanzimat Dönemi) (1839-1876) was a crisis for the state. The state has been affected more by the innovation that it had dome itself, and it couldn’t have stopped it. Ottoman Empire has wanted to save the empire while it has modernized by trending to Western civilization. It was a contradictory situation. In that period that several thoughts have fought, a lot of movements of thought have occurred to reconcile them. 2. Movements of Thought In Tanzimat Reform Era and Constitutional Period, production of thoughts and idea debates have increased between Ottoman intellectuals. Movements of Thought in II. Constitutional Period have occurred by effort to prevent the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire. The strongest link to keep the ottoman community alive has been tried to be discovered and improved. The intellectuals who were affected by West, had active role in this period, and supported innovations have been called as Young Turks (Jön Türkler) or New Ottomans (Yeni Osmanlılar). 2.1. Ottomanism Ottomanism was the most important thought that the Constitution is based on. Idea of Ottomanism has aimed to unite all communities in Ottoman. In Constitution, other minorities and non-Muslims have gotten right to be represented in the parliament, and have gotten the same rights with Muslims. It was revolution. Ottoman Empire has embraced this thought to prevent to Western countries pressure and keep together all communities in Ottoman. 2.2. Westernism The problem of decline in the Ottoman state has increased the search for ways to advance between the intellectuals. At the beginning of these efforts, there was an innovation effort to create a state and a society that were similar to Western. In short, this initiative which was called the Westernism movement has become an intellectual movement for the purpose of capturing the modern developments in the West. 2.3. Islamicism The basic claim of Islamic thought was that Muslims have been a whole without regard for geography, culture, and nationality, and must have been managed by forming a great unity in the world. All Muslims were seen as a social union in this sense. It has been possible and necessary to do this around the Ottoman Empire according to this thought. 2.4. Turkism The idea of Turkism has emerged in the modern stage that has emerged after Tanzimat. We can see the effect of Western nationalism through Turkism thought in Ottoman. 2.5. A Short Discussion Ottoman intellectuals have kept their distance from Turkism for quite a while. They have wanted to use Ottomanism and Islamicism to prevent the dissolution of the Empire. 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