This paper discusses the attempts by the rulers of the Ottoman empire to modernize the society-by modernizing the bureaucracy to implement reforms needs as: promotion of Ottomanism as a, counter ideology to nationalism, reform of provincial administration, and an Ottoman constitution. The reformers were so strongly committed to Ottoman values, that they could not become committed to the radical social and political changes required for modernization. As a result, the changes made in the bureaucracy only increased the ascriptive orientation of the society, and continued the authoritarian rule. Committment to fundamental social and political change would seem to be among the conditions for bureaucrats to help effect modernization in underdeveloped countries. Walter F. Weiker is associate professor in the department of Political Science at Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey.