An ideological, sociological, and cultural comparison of the 31 March Incident and the Gezi Park Protest

Throughout history, social movements have served as pivotal moments that redefine the relationship between state power and the people. The March 31 Incident during the late Ottoman Empire and the Gezi Park Protests in contemporary Turkey represent two significant cases in this regard. Although more than a century apart, these events exhibit similarities in terms of government authority, public resistance, and the perceived role of external interventions. This thesis compares the March 31 Incident and the Gezi Park Protests, aiming to analyze the political and social conditions during these critical episodes, along with their consequences and impacts on governmental authority. It posits that both events were driven by comparable ideological, political, and social motivations despite differing historical contexts. The March 31 Incident has been recorded as a rebellion against Sultan Abdulhamid II and significantly altered the political structure of the late Ottoman Empire. Conversely, the Gezi Park Protests emerged as a broad-based civic response to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This study argues that both uprisings stemmed from public discontent toward authoritarian governance and restrictions on democratic freedoms. This study aims to reveal the historical continuity of political transformation in Turkey and contribute to a deeper understanding of mass mobilization against centralized authority