Mustafa Zihni Pasha's life and political views

The present study focuses on the biography of Babanzade Mustafa Zihni Pasha (1850-1929) who is one of the late period Ottoman statesmen. Babanzade Mustafa Zihni Pasha is an administrator who raised important persons from his family who are among the intellectuals of late period of Ottoman State and initial period of the Republic of Turkey like himself. The background of a period is described in general including the reforms period in various areas such as social, military, administrative and political domains of Ottomans starting from the final years of Abdülhamid II and until the reign of Mehmed Vahideddin. Zihni Pasha plays a key role in the administrative activities carried out particularly during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of 20th century in Ottoman History. As the Ottoman -Balkan War approached in the first half of the 20th century, he drew attention to Ottoman- Balkan wars by providing opinion stating that the state should not enter the war as Ottoman State did not have military power that would bring victory. Zihni Pasha started his career as an officer in Bagdat defter-i hakani (land registry) and secretariat. Subsequently, he served as sealer of Midhat Pasha when he took office as Bagdat governor and he started to become known. He served as lieutenant governor in various provinces such as Tripoli, Bolu, Gumushane, Berat, Antalya, Burdur and as governor in provinces such as Adana, Ionnina and Hejaz. Even to he and particularly his sons known as Babanzade were pushed into the background by the governments of the periods, they are persons who had substantial influence not only about the state affairs but also about our intellectual life. As they were from Bagdad, members of Babanzade family had deep knowledge about eastern societies and cultures, western languages and philosophy; however, their life style and ideas were not under influence of them. On the other hand, Mustafa Zihni Pasha was exiled to Kastamonu when he expressed his opinion that it was not right to transfer the Caliphate to Ottomans, while he was serving as lieutenant governor in Bolu. In addition, he was dismissed from the office and exiled when he was Adana governor because he wrote that caliphate should be based on consultation and voting in his work named "Khalifate Movement in Islam". Mustafa Zihni Pasha achieved remarkable accomplishments in solution of important problems of the state by displaying good administrative skills with his smart and balancing personality. Zihni Pasha displayed a traditionalist attitude in the 19th century when reforms were made intensively, and he drew different portrait in Ottoman history with his works on statesmanship and especially, religion and moral values. This study named "Mustafa Zihni Pasha's Life and Political Views" is focused on life, family, duties and activities of Zihni Pasha. Objective of the present study is to reveal the biography, ideological world and political views of Zihni Pasha. Key Words: Mustafa Zihni Pasha, Traditionalism, Governor, Lieutenant Governor