Perception of Europe Among Ottoman Intellectuals and Politicians Following the Second Constitutional Revolution (1908-1913)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is revealing the perception of the West/Europe among the Ottoman intellectuals and politicians mainly using certain newspapers, memoirs and publications published in Turkey during the Second Constitutional Era. The reason for using these sources is an attempt to directly reveal the perception of the west among the Ottoman intellectuals and administration. However, this perception will not be studied throughout the entire Second Constitutional Era, only between the years 1908-1913. Revealing the extent to which political developments such as the declaration of the constitution, the invasion of Tripoli and the Balkan Wars influenced the perception of Europe particularly in the period mentioned will serve in determining the purpose of this study. At this point, the events that occurred during this historical process will also contribute to explaining the profile, perception these generated in the minds of the Ottoman intellectuals and politicians, the attitude of the Turks in Turkish history and even among some today. Therefore, the current perception of Europe among the Turks emerged within an historical process and carries the hallmarks of history. On the other hand, explaining the Ottoman intellectuals and Europe/Western conception is also important in terms of this study reaching its goal. Indeed, understanding the topic of this study is only possible and directly relevant by explaining these concepts. At this point, what we are implying by the European concept is Western thought and the attitude and policies the major European countries and politicians adopted towards the Ottoman State. In this context, this study takes into account the need to explain the dilemma between the Ottoman/Turk intelligentsia’s dependency on the West and their sense of being betrayed by Europe.