Download complate issue - Ozean Publications

Ozean Journal of Social Sciences 2(3), 2009ISSN 1943-2577© 2009 Ozean PublicationOTTOMAN MODERNIZATION AND EFFECTSOF THE TANZIMAT EDICT ON TODAY(November 3, 1839)Zabit ACERDumlupinar University, Vocational School of Kütahya, Kutahya, TurkeyAbstract: Turkish Occidentalization Movements implies some innovations in applied culture and techniques.The innovative values of Western culture, wasn‟t immediately accepted by the intellectuals and the commonpeople. Occidentalization Movements started exactly together with the administrative reports and the superiorityof the Europe was accepted. Because the reforms before the administrative reforms were including traditionalismand Islamic principles, but the innovations after the administrative reforms were formed by the model of Europe.The innovations taken by the administrative reforms were mostly in favor of non-Islamic. During this period,Ottoman Empire found out that he had to have some innovations by abolishing some institutions which had lostits effectiveness instead of counterfeiting the Europe at random. Some compulsory and permanent amendmentswere formed by these innovations. It was aimed that giving birth to the state by the improvements done by theEuropean model. By intending the joining together and corporation thought, “Ottoman Citizenship” was aimed.By the administrative reforms appeared by the 1830 Revolutions in Europe, there had been a turning point of theOttoman Empire‟s modernization and there had been various amendments that its effects are seen today,commonly in the field of education. Municipality and archives movements were some important modelsdeveloped during that period. Lack of some innovations by taking into consideration of some national benefitsand not seeing the real purposes of the European countries‟ proposals had obstructed our benefits from theinterests brought by the administrative reforms. In spite of some officers had sent to Anatolia and Europe todescribe the administrative reforms, common people couldn‟t comprehend the circumstances and these reformscouldn‟t be succeeded. In one hand there had been some political and social innovations in the western style, inthe other hand there had been some other innovations for the army and education. The most important additionof the administrative reforms to the Turkish history was the education of the first intellectual staff and then thefirst step had been taken for the realization of constituonal regime.Key Words: Innovation, Cultere, Modernization, Occidentalization.INTRODUCTIONTurkish westernization movements include some applied renovations in cultural and technical areas. The Westculture‟s values which are new to us haven‟t been accepted immediately by intellectuals and the public. It wasaccepted that Westernization movements started absolutely with the Tanzimat. This beginning started with theedict known as the Imperial Edict of Gulhane (November 3, 1839), revealed important changes in the areas ofeducation, culture, philosophy, law, literature and society. In the Tanzimat Edict, from that time backward a onehundred fifty years review of the Ottoman State against the West was discussed and it was stated about problemsthe State lived. The most intensive critiques to the Tanzimat and westernization movements focused on that theserenovation movements were realized in consequence of the pressure of the West and were not so imperative.(İhsanoğlu 1999: 195)Superiority of Europe was accepted with this edict. Because in the reforms made prior to the Tanzimat while itwas conformed to the principles of traditionalism and commitment to Islamic principles, Europe was taken asmodel in renovations performed after the Tanzimat. “The State concept, bureaucratic organization, army,education, commercial and penal laws and even partly the court organization were changed according to theirEuropean samples.” As a result, a duality within the State occurred almost in every area. (Türkler 12/2: 356)189