Greek Ottomans in the 1908 parliament /

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b1167581 (Table of Content)

This thesis is an attempt to question some common assumptions on the idea of Ottomanism and development of Turkish nationalism. This is done through an examination of the case of the Greek Ottoman deputies in the 1908 Parliament (1908-1912). Benefiting from the relatively liberal atmosphere of the time, Greeks and Turks engaged in revealing discussions both in the Chamber of Deputies and the press. The primary aim of this thesis is to arrive at a general understanding of the period by following these discussions. Different ways the principle of Ottomanism was interpreted by different groups will be especially illuminating for the purposes of this study. Debates taking place in the Chamber of Deputies which concerned the Greek Ottoman community will be analyzed along with their reflections in the Turkish-Ottoman and Greek-Ottoman press. This study is not a study of political history narrating the relevant developments in the period, but rather a study that prioritizes a narration of a fierce struggle made through words. The overall result of this evaluation will necessitate a reconsideration of generally accepted hypotheses about the Second Constitutional Period, specifically about the Ottomanist ideology and the stance of the Greek Ottomans on it.