Theses supervised by Yrd. Doç. Dr. Oktay Özel
15 theses · İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University
Makedonya üzerine mücadele: Florina 1906, Rumeli Müfettişliği belgelerine göre
Straggle over Macedonia: Fiorina 1906, According to the Records of Rumeli Inspectorship. Kayalar, Anıl. M. A., Department of History Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Oktay Özel The Macedonian Question was one of the diplomatic problems that statesmen and the international public opinion were mostly concerned with at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. The expansionist and irredentist desires of the Balkan states Greece, Serbia, and especially Bulgaria lied at the core of the problem. These states encouraged, and even organised terrorist activities in Macedonia. The Great Powers -Austria-Hungary, Russia, Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy-, meanwhile, viewed the issue in terms of their own political and economic interests. These powers, while supporting this or that Balkan state in various ways and pressurising the Sublime Porte to conduct reforms so as to improve the lives of Christian communities in the European lands of the empire, also wanted the Ottoman Empire to preserve its territorial integrity. Under these circumstances, during the first decade of the twentieth century life in Macedonia was highlighted by anarchy, terror, insecurity and disorder. This thesis deals with certain aspects of the Macedonian Question. The activities of the influence agents of the states that considered Macedonia within their national boundaries and aspired to annex the land, and put forth claims accordingly, such as the bands of Macedo-Bulgarian organisations or the Greek bands, are studied. In addition, the Greek and Bulgarian activities in the kaza of Fiorina, which is in the vilayet of Manastır, in 1906 are examined in particular with reference to the documents of Rumeli Inspectorship; attempting to construct a micro-history of the region. Key Words: The Macedonian Question, Irredentism, Terror, Macedo-Bulgarian bands, Greek bands, Reform, Fiorina, 1906. m
İkinci dünya savaşı sonrasında ABD`nin dış yardım politikası ve çevrede bağımlılığın kurumsallaşması: Türkiye ve Hindistan karşılaştırması (1947-73)
the US Foreign Aid Policy and The Institutionalization of Dependency in the Periphery:Turkey and India Compared(1947-73)Leyla ŞENDepartment of HistorySupervisor: Asst. Prof. Oktay OzelFebruary 2003The US Foreign Aid Policy and the Institutionalization of Dependency in the Periphery:Turkey and India Compared (1947-73) analyzes the socio-political determinants in Turkeyand India those led to unattainment of the ultimate objective of the development policies inthe post-WW2 era. In both countries, development endeavors are regarded as successconcerning the realized growth levels, but as failures with respect to equality in incomedistribution, welfare at grassroots and the degree of self-reliance, that is the ability to developalternatives when facing with various kinds of obstacles impeding full-capacity functioning ofthe sectors. Despite their differences in natural resources, class dynamics and industrializationlevels Turkey and India faced similar deficiencies in their development endeavors. Thediagnosed prevailing deficiencies can be explained by the disguised forces of politicaleconomy.In the scope of the study, these disguised forces are defined as inner and external dynamics.While the inner dynamics indicate the ruling elite coalition of Turkey and India, the externaldynamics refer to the center countries, particularly to the superpower of the `free world? bloc,the USA and the main mechanisms of the capitalist economic order that the center countriescreated in the post-WW2 era. Categorization of these dynamics is done with respect tostrategic considerations rather than technical ones in accordance to the key hypothesis of thestudy, which argues the unsatisfying outcomes of the development endeavors, are due to theinterplay of inner and external dynamics.As the problematic aspect of the process is related to resource allocation, capital accumulationand divergences in the national development priorities, inner dynamics are limited to theruling elite coalition. In both countries the ruling elite coalitions had a considerable success inemasculating the policies challenging their interests, led divergences in the nationaldevelopment objectives by their interest-orientation, and launched strategies for their ownwellbeing. Inefficient tax systems, failing land reform policies, sabotaged communitydevelopment attempts in rural areas, allocation of scarce resources to unproductive but quickprofit earning sectors, ceaseless flow of public resources in various forms are among theprimary strategies of the ruling elite coalition.The external dynamics are restricted to the superpower of the `free world? bloc due to itshegemony in the immediate post-WW2 era, its policies such as foreign aid which wasdesigned to reinforce its stance in the international arena and its being one of the arch shaperof the course of the Cold war. By these, the USA, in one way or another, contributed greatlyto the unattained development objectives, at least in the case of Turkey and India. In contrastto the claim of breaking the `vicious circle of poverty` in the less developed countries throughforeign aid, the USA and main instruments of the capitalist economic order by theirmechanical approach contributed to the reinforcement of the `vicious circle of dependency`.Keywords: Cold War, Foreign Aid, Underdevelopment, Dependency, Center-Periphery,Development, Political Economy, Ruling Elite Coalition, Superpower
Bir ayna olarak şehir: 19. yüzyılda Osmanlı İmparatorluğu'nda şehirli olmak
The physical and social transformations taking place in İstanbul, İzmir and Salonica throughout the 19th century Ottoman Empire had been the subject of many studies, however, the degree to which urban population identified themselves with the novelties of the era's urban living still remains in shadow. This dissertation aims to interpret the 19th century Ottoman Empire by focusing on the urban population of the Empire's three largest cities and the contemporary narratives written by people from different segments of the society. Their descriptions and interpretations of the milieu they live in reveal how they perceived the modernising processes of the Empire reflected through the city and the varying degrees of identification with not only being an urbanite but also with the changing relationship between the state and the population, transforming from one of subjecthood to citizenship. In addition to traditional distinctions between Muslims and non-Muslims as well as private and public designated along gender within the urban space, it appears that the 19th century brought about new points of convergence and divergence into the scene redefining the boundaries of private and public and offering a possibility for a new identity that transcended communal, religious and ethnic differences, thereby complicating the urban network of relationships. In this sense, new modes of communication within the city that were now spread through the educational reforms and the burgeoining press became major influences, and contested the view of state imposed reforms by offering their versions of modernity and encouraging urbanites to take part in the process.
Tanzimat reformları üzerine bir yeniden değerlendirme: Tuna vilayeti meselesi(1856-1868)
After signing of the Treaty of Paris (1856), Westernization and other reforms were adopted by the Ottoman government as a strategy to protect the state in existence. The Christian Question in the Empire as well as the pressures of the Great Powers emerged to become the most important reasons to impel the Ottoman Government to carry out reforms. The Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Empire were the countries that attempted to find a way out of the political difficulties and challenges arising from the legacy of an ancient regime, emerging nationalist movements and imperialist aspirations of Western powers and Russia. Focusing on the period from 1856 to 1868, the aim of this study is to re-visit the reform question by devoting a special place to the Tuna (Danube) Province (Tuna Vilâyeti), which was governed by Midhat Pasha between the years 1864 and 1868. This is simply because during that time period, the Tuna Province was designed as a governmental project to spread the reforms across the country, in other words, it served as a model for other provinces. This thesis is divided into two parts: 1) The World Encircling the Ottoman Empire (1856-1870) and The Reform Question (1856-1865), and 2) The Vilâyet of Tuna (1864-1868). Key Words: Balkan Crisis, Midhat Pasha, Provincial Reform, Tanzimat, Tuna Vilâyeti
Osmanlı Ayntab`ında aşiret eşkıyalığı (1690-1730)
Tribal Banditry in Ottoman Ayntab (1690-1730)Soyudoğan, Muhsin.M.A., Department of History.Supervisior: Asst. Prof. Oktay Özel.This thesis attempts to understand the tribal banditry through a micro historicalanalsysis, which focuses on the tribal banditry in Ayntab region during the lateseveneteenth and early eighteenth century. Though it focuses on a specific region, ittries to contribute to the discussion on banditry and also tries to develop a model foranalyzing banditry in the Ottoman Empire. The novelty of this model is that it ismore likely to consider different factors, like social organization, which is mainlyshaped by the group perception of the actor, and social, economical, and politicalmotivators, in understanding banditry. Moreover, this study offers an approach thatsees the banditry as not sporadic events but a long lasting phenomenon in theOttoman history. Thus, it reflects banditry as embodied socio-political conflicts.Key Words: Tribes, social and political banditry, social power, social organization,kinship system, Ayntab, the Otoman Empire.iii
Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa: İngiliz işgali altındaki Mısır'a karşı yürüttüğü eylemlere mahsus atıfla tarihi bir değerlendirme (1914-1916)
THE OTTOMAN SPECIAL ORGANIZATION - TEŞK LAT-I MAHSUSA: AHISTORICAL ASSESSMENT WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ITSOPERATIONS AGAINST BRITISH OCCUPIED EGYPT(1914-1916)Safi, PolatM.A., Department of HistorySupervisor: Ass. Prof. Oktay ÖzelSeptember 2006The present level of the knowledge about the plans and operations of theTeşkilat-ı Mahsusa forces against Egypt during World War I is very poor in terms of theanalysis of this phenomenon at a micro level in different localities. This study, in thiscontext, is an attempt through the Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa concentration, nourished mainlyfrom Sinai, Libya, and to a lesser extent Sudan, against Egypt between 1914 and 1916 tofurther our understanding of not only the details of the Teşkilat?s activities in theseregions but also its administrative and operational characteristics.Keywords: Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa, Umur-i Şarkiye Dairesi, Sinai, Egypt, Libya,Sudan, Süleyman Askeri, Mümtaz Bey, Hasan Efendi, Eşref Kuşçubaşı, Nuri Paşa,Cafer el-Askeri, Afrika Grupları Kumandanlığı.iii
Düşmanı betimlemek : Birinci Dünya Savaşı sırasında basındaki Ruslar ve Osmanlılar
The intricate course of events that led both the Russian and Ottoman Empirestowards the Great War had been the culmination of long-lasting domestic andinternational developments, which were reflected in their policies towards the otherside. However, despite the ardent hatred and evident enmity that prevailed over theRusso-Ottoman relations for centuries, both of these empires were faced with similarproblems of political, socioeconomic and national character that distinguished themfrom the rest of Europe and Asia.Whether out of hopelessness, inevitability, greater expectations or simply as aprecious opportunity to rehabilitate their former reputation, seriously damaged afterivthe humiliating Russo-Japanese and Balkan wars, the levying of war against theirhistorical enemies deeply affected each countries' entire population. The effect wasparticularly strong because of the advanced and elaborate total war propagandatechniques employed primarily by the press, while the religious, nationalistic andhistorical aspects of the confrontation made the propaganda warfare a diverse andcomplicated battlefield.The main objective of this work is the presentation, comparison and analysis of agreat variety of controversial pieces of information related to the Russo-Ottomanconfrontation prior to and during the First World War. This information revealspersonal prejudice, ethnic, religious and political affiliation of the authors, as well asdeliberate attempts to spread misinformation and propaganda.
İki imparatorluk arasında Türkmenler: Anadolu'da kızılbaş kimliğinin kökenleri (1447-1514)
This thesis aims to evaluate the emergence of the Qizilbash Movement andthe Qizilbash Identity during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century within thestruggle between the Ottoman and the Safavid power. The process of the making ofthe Qizilbash Identity, which was, in essence, the concurrent process of theTurkoman milieu?s gradual divergence from the Ottoman axis and convergence tothe Safavid affiliation, is reflected in available sources as if it were predominantly areligious issue. The present study argues, however, that the religious aspect of thedevelopments was simply the `surface? or `outcome? of a rather inclusive processincluding anthropological, cultural, sociological, and political dimensions. It isargued that the Qizilbash Identity was a product of the intercession of two separatebut interrelated lines of developments: on the one hand being the alienation of the`nomadic-tribal Turkoman world? from the `Ottoman imperial regime?, while on theother hand being the synchronized rapprochement between the `Turkoman milieu? ofAnatolia and the Safavid Order. One of the prominent promises of the present thesisis that the most decisive factors governing the course of both lines of thedevelopments stemmed from the structural inconsistencies, or `unconsciousstructures? of societies as Lévi-Strauss states, between two `ways of life?: one issedentary life, which accomplished its socio-political organization as bureaucraticstate, and the other is nomadic or semi-nomadic life organized around tribal axis.Key words: Qizilbash, Safavids, Ottoman, Turkoman, tribe
Beden,hastalık & son dönem Osmanlı edebiyatı: Tanzimat dönemi Osmanlı müslüman ailesi üzerine tartışmalar (1839-1908)
This study analyzes the development and transformation of Ottoman population policies and medical regulations together with their social impact in the Tanzimat Period. It also aims to document the transformation of Ottoman modern state apparatus in the scope of population policies, which characterized the era for their political, economic, moral, sanitary and military significance. Population and public health policies, diverse regulatory discourses related to these policy orientations, and finally literary works belonged to the Tanzimat period are evaluated to historicize the re-construction of power, and the emergence of Ottoman modern (Muslim) family and individual.
Şiiliğe karşı sünnilik mi? Geç 19. yüzyıl Irak?ta şii siyasetinin yükselişi ve artan Osmanlı endişesi
The resurgence of religious political activism had predominantly been one of the foremost themes of structural transformations among societies during the nineteenth century. The major characteristic regarding the history of religion in the Middle Eastern context was a bilateral process, that of the mobilization of society and of the consolidation of organized social movements followed by a subsequent process of politicization. As for the Iraqi region, the influence of Shi?ism increased over certain segments of society thus ?the spread of Shi?ism? primarily meant the increased activity and organization of Shi?i communities, which increased their weight in political spectrum rather than the magnitude of ?the spread? itself.There were internal and external reasons for the rise of Shi?i politics. On the one hand, the intensifying governmental cohesion over the very segments of society during the process of centralization deeply influenced the existing social structure through dislocating various populations and many large tribal confederations. On the other hand, the rise of Usulism at the expense of the Akhbari interpretation of the Shi?i jurisprudence generated an innovative tendency, stimulating the Shi?i scholars to understand and interpret the worldly affairs in a different manner. It gave an impetus and a peculiar function to the position of Shi?i clerical notables, particularly the mujtahids, consolidating their authority in social as well as political matters.The growing influence of Shi?ism in the Iraqi region gave rise to Ottoman apprehension. As a common theme in the Ottoman official documentation, a strong emphasis was made upon the seriousness and urgency of ?the spread of Shi?ism.? Ottoman officials embraced a policy of educational counter-propaganda to deal with the Shi?i Question. The major strategy, which they utilized, was not the use of forceful measures but the promotion of Sunni education through opening medreses and sending Sunni ulema to the Iraqi region. However, indoctrinating Sunnism at the expense of Shi?ism had much to do with the political unity and the social integrity of the empire rather than the pure religious motivation.This study further examines selected aspects of the social relations between Shi?is and Sunnis of Iraq in the late nineteenth century. However, the strong emphasis is made upon the relations between the Iraqi Shi?is and the Sunni Ottoman government drawing some conclusions on the antagonistic relations between governmental authorities and certain segments of Shi?i masses. This study also discusses a two-dimensional view developed by the Ottoman officials regarding Shi?ism and the Shi?is of Iraq, perceiving the former as a theological deviation from the ?true? path of Islam and recognizing the latter as being similar to those of other local figures who made up the Iraqi society.Key words: Abdülhamid II, Shi?ism, Sunnism, Iraq, Iran, Ottoman, Mujtahid.
II. Abdülhamid Dönemi Doğu Anadolu politikasi (1878-1890)
The Treaty of Berlin, signed in July 1878, marks the appearence of new political dynamics for Eastern Anatolian affairs. The stipulation of the reforms for the protection of the Armenians from Kurdish and Circassian attacks, and the supervision of these reforms by the British authorities were to effect the relations of the Eastern Anatolian populations with the state. The thesis examines the roots of conflicts between the Kurdish and Armenian populations, which was problematized by the aforementioned treaty. Moreover, state policies towards the region are discussed in detail. The state had now two equally important concerns regarding its dealings with the Muslim populations. The first was the immediate attainment of a state of security, for insecurity was used as an argument against the legitimacy of the Ottoman state ruling over Christian populations. The second was abstaining from actions which would alienate the Muslim populations from the Ottoman state. The notables were the agents who held practical power in the region, and the state was too new and foreign to the area to break their influence. This made conciliation with notables imperative. The state was hence faced with the formidable task of balancing the need to conciliate with the notables and the need tokeep their actions under control. This thesis examines the situation of the tribal structure with a focus on the peculiarities of the socio-political traditions, as well as the state?s perception of this structure and its concerns in dealings with the region in the specified period.
İngiliz- Osmanlı tarihinde "şefkatli" bir dönem: '93 muhacirlerine İngiliz yardımı
This thesis aims to provide an indebt analysis of the British relief to the Ottoman Refugees of 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War (?93 Refugees). The course of the war resulted in an enormous exodus especially through the Balkans. Hundreds of thousands of Ottoman subjects had to flee towards the heartlands of the Ottoman Empire in destitute conditions. The official British foreign policy was determined as neutrality, however the British civilian initiative together with the diplomatic actors showed their support through humanitarian relief. A campaign was initiated in London and The Turkish Compassionate Fund was established especially for the ?93 Refugees and other British organizations got involved in the relief of these non-combatants. The British Ambassador to the Porte superintended the whole process and mobilised the diplomatic network under his command thus philanthropy was used as a tool of diplomacy. The British endeavour to succour ?93 Refugees was met with content by the Ottoman authorities and received the Sultan?s appreciation.This thesis reveals a rarely known episode of Anglo-Ottoman history far from the classical approaches of the diplomatic history of the period and handles the issue as a different dimension of the Anglo-Ottoman relations.
Türkmen Voyvodası, aşiretler ve Osmanlı Devleti (1590-1690)
The Turcomans were one of the most dynamic elements in the Ottoman history. The Ottomans had to cope with those forceful nomads, while consolidating their dominance over Anatolia. Although there was a clear tendency towards sedentarization during sixteenth century, a visible revival of nomadism is observed in Anatolia during the seventeenth century. According to the contemporary chronicles, the Turcomans tend to have maintained their dynamism throughout the seventeenth century. On the other hand, in this period the Türkmen voyvodalığı appeared as a new desirable post over which there were great struggles, especially led by the kapıkulu sipahs. The office of the Türkmen voyvodalığı played a key role in many rebellions of the seventeenth century. This thesis attempts to deal with the Türkmen voyvodalığı in the period between 1590-1690. Basing on understanding what the Türkmen voyvodası was, it tries to shed light upon the nomadic groups generally, particulary the Turcomans, in the seventeenth century.
Orta Anadolu'da göçebelikten yerleşik hayata geçiş: Rışvan Aşireti örneği (1830-1932)
This thesis presents an overview of how the Ottoman Empire established its relations with nomads and how it managed to administrate the settlement of nomadic tribes. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the dynamics that made the sedentarization of nomadic tribes necessary in the 19th century with particular reference to the settlement of Rışvan tribe in Central Anatolia, more specifically in Haymana. In this respect, the effects of this settlement on the population structure and settlement geography of Haymana are examined. The thesis also deals with the challenges the newly settled nomadic Rışvan tribesmen faced such as the settlement and adaptation problems in the sedentarization process and afterwards. Lastly, the factors that affected and extended the sedentarization process are analyzed in comparison with the experiences in the other Middle-Eastern examples of sedentarization and settlement processes.
Timar sisteminin yeniden değerlendirilmesi: Vidin örneği (1455-1693)
This dissertation is based on a long durée approach and utilizes micro historical analyses to reconsider the nature and transformation of the timar system through a case study of the sancak of Vidin. It presents a method that I call timar tracking which allows a systematic analysis of various primary sources such as; mufassal, icmal, ruznamçe, cebe, tahvil and yoklama registers, which facilitates a better evaluation of the reliability of sources and a wider picture of the issue.One of the main concerns of the study is to question the conventional understanding of the timar system that has been mainly built upon the terminology of the sixteenth century. The argument offered here is that the timar system evolved into its orthodox form after 1530. This transition is simply described as the change from two-layered to tripartite form of the timar system.Moreover, the transformation of the timar system, so its degeneration, is handled as a matter of systemic paradoxes. The argument is that the development of the system also made it vulnerable. In this sense the process of the hassification, meaning the expansion and development of state/sultan?s lands, both contributed to the further development of the timar system and made it dissolve. Similarly, centralization policies of the state resulted in the timar system being highly controlled by the government; but those same policies actually led to the central state losing control over the system. This occurred through what I term the abstraction of the timar is a conceptualization of the paradoxical transformation of the system.Lastly, the timar system is approached as one of several components of a general Ottoman complex/system. What I call military sphere is the area on which the timar system was built. The three stages of the transformation of the organization of this sphere, as well as, the inter-relations between the other spheres are discussed in detail. Finally, it is concluded that the military sphere was occupied by other spheres, which occurred in Vidin through hassification and privatization.