19. yüzyılda Japonya ve Osmanlı İmparatorluğu'nun modernleşme yolundaki farklılaşma

Modernization studies try to explain how modernized states modernized and to find recipe for other nations to use their own modernization efforts. The first modernized nations' experiences were initially used and imported in 19th century by The Ottoman Empire and Japan. Japan although starting late than the Ottoman Empire, was very successful in its modernization attempt, and became an equal state to the likes the Great Britain and the US in 1902. The Ottomans on the other hand failed their long modernization process and dissolved in 1922. After defining modernization as being regarded an equal by the first modernized states, the Ottoman Empire and Japan's modernization process is divided into three sub categories as International Context and Political Situation, Economic Structure and Growth, Social Structure and Education. These sub categories are also periodized and divided into four periods called: Pre-modern period, Dawn of Modernization, Process of Modernization, and Aftermath. In pre-modern period, Japan had more educated population and upper class which was nonexisted in the Ottoman Empire, Japan was gradually getting centralized but the Ottomans were in the process of decentralization which hindered the modernization process in the later periods. In the consequent period, both nations were aware for the need for reforms and in this period we see Japan's ability to catch up to the other nations by learning the ways of diplomacy and technology of the modernized nations quickly. The Ottomans were having internal conflicts hindering the progression of modernization efforts. It took a long time for the Ottomans to start the process unhindered as a whole state apparatus. In the Process of modernization, Japan as the whole state apparatus wanted to modernize the state as soon as possible to overturn unequal treaties they signed with the modernized West. Japan was successful at this after 40 years of struggle. On the other hand, after Mahmud II, the Ottomans lost its ability to concentrate on the progression. There were many times the throne and bureaucracy went into power struggle which slowed down the modernization process, and sometimes halted it and even regressed it. Japan only had one such struggle thanks to modernizers' victory over the conservatives. The process never stopped, however it changed shape according to the government's needs throughout the period. The Ottoman's economy defaulted in this period which destroyed any credibility it had in the eyes of the modernized nations, while Japan's economy was getting bigger and stronger with the central banking system. Japan's initial imperialistic tendencies also surfaced in this period. In the Aftermath, Japan accomplished becoming a modern nation by the alliance treaty with the Great Britain in 1902 and cemented its power after defeating a western nation, Russia in 1905. Adopting the gold standard raised the credibility of Japanese economy, and investments poured into Japan while Japan developing their heavy industry to invade Southeast Asia. The Ottomans had a revolution which toppled the throne's power for good and bureaucracy hastily tried to modernize the state to save the empire while having internal conflicts themselves. When the internal conflicts were resolved, the empire found itself in never ending wars which crippled the effort focusing on modernization and eventually caused the downfall of the Empire. The modernization process of Japan was a destructive one, destroying the old establishment to create a new establishment, useful for their own modernization efforts. However, the Ottomans never accomplished such a task and even created dualities by establishing new institutions besides the old ones that mostly hindered the modernization process throughout the 19th century. Geographical proximity to Europe, having heterogeneous ethnic groups with different religions and languages turned into a roadblock for the Ottomans. Japan had none of these issues that became an obstacle in the social transformation process.