Balance of power in the Islamic world: A case study on the Ottoman Empire during Selim the First

This thesis examines the explanatory power and universal applicability of the balance of power theory through a non-Western case study focusing on the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Selim the First. The rapid rise of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of Ottoman hegemony in the sixteenth century of the Middle East under Selim's short but transformative eight-year reign make it a deviant case that challenges the theory's assumptions and applicability. This study utilizes process tracing to explore why the Ottomans' ascent was not effectively countered by rival states (Safavids, Mamluks, and European Powers) through internal or external balancing mechanisms. The thesis attributes the Ottoman success in establishing a hegemony in the Middle East to three factors: Selim the First's leadership, Ottoman military superiority, and lack of an effective counterbalancing coalition. Selim consolidated his authority by eliminating dynastic rivals and controlling elite institutions, enabling rapid and unified external action. The Ottoman military's advanced use of gunpowder, disciplined organizational structure, and logistical efficiency outmatched its rivals. By contrast, the Safavids and Mamluks were weakened by structural deficiencies and special challenges, while European states remained distracted by continental rivalries. These structural and political conditions inside the rivals of the Ottomans hindered the formation of an effective counterbalancing coalition against the Ottoman Empire.