Ottomanism

The Ottomanism ( Turkish Osmanlılık or Osmanlıcılık ) was a concept which provided for the equality of all citizens of the Ottoman Empire, regardless of their religion. The Ottomanism developed before the First Verfassungsära of the Ottoman Empire.

Its proponents believed that the Ottomanism could solve the social problems of the empire. The Ottomanism was influenced by thinkers such as Montesquieu and Rousseau and the French Revolution. It supported the equality within the millets. The idea went back to the Young Ottomans. Represented simply stated the Ottomanism that all subjects were equal before the law. The essence of the millet system should not be abolished, but säkularere organizations and political practices should be introduced. Primary education, military service, poll tax and military service should be applied to non-Muslims and Muslims alike.

The Hatt- ı Humayun of 1856, the full equality regardless of religion promised and Nationality Act of 1869, which created a common Ottoman citizenship irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation, were harbingers of Ottomanism. The Ottomanism was rejected by many Muslims, but also by many residents of the non-Muslim millets. Of the latter, he was seen as a step to abolish their traditional privileges, while the Muslims considered it the elimination of their own superior position in the kingdom. There were complaints that the Ottomanism a reaction to the Tanzimat was the era of intensive restructuring of the Ottoman Empire by a bureaucratic elite.

The Ottomanism lived during the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 and during the Second Verfassungsära again. He lost most of the trailer during the First Balkan War 1912-1913.