Shattered Dreams of Revolution

In the wide geography of the Ottoman Empire, which hosted different ethno-religious groups, the Constitutional Monarchy was declared in 1908, being influenced by the rising waves of revolution and constitutional movements in the world. This revolution, which aimed to create Ottoman citizenship by highlighting the slogan of "freedom, equality, brotherhood", one of the symbols of the 1789 French Revolution, is examined from the perspective of non-dominant groups in the country in Shattered Dreams of Revolution. Bedross der Matossian states that ethnic boundaries, one of the obstacles to the ideal of brotherhood, continue to exist despite the revolution. In this study, focusing on Armenians, Arabs and Jews, he examines how reasons such as the lack of negotiation between the ruling elite and the Ottoman subjects and the coming to the fore of ethnic politics prevented the realization of the ideals of the revolution. It reveals why the revolution turned into a disappointment for non-dominant groups in this process.

"(…) the revolutionaries' unquestioning adoption, acceptance and implementation of the idea of constitutionalism backfired in an era when it was impossible to create a united nation and protect the integrity of the Ottoman Empire. (…) The truth is that the constitutionalism aimed to create a new understanding of Ottoman citizenship, equal rights for all citizens. "It is that he failed to recognize them, to bring them together under the roof of a legislative assembly, and finally to give a new breath of life to the Ottoman Empire from the ashes of the Abdulhamid regime."
(From the Promotional Bulletin)



Number of Pages: 304

Year of Printing: 2016


Language: Turkish
Publisher: Iletisim Publishing

Number of Pages: 304

First Print Year: 2016

Language Turkish