Osmanlı Devleti’nde İnsanî Yardımın Bir Yönü: Duâgûyân
Perspective on Humanitarian Aid in the Ottoman Empire: The Duâgûyân Institution

Author(s): Songül Şenlik
Subject(s): Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Political history, Social history, Modern Age, Welfare systems, The Ottoman Empire, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Oku Okut Yayınları
Keywords: Ottoman Empire; Duâgûy; Humanitarian Aid; Sustainable Aid; Systematic Aid;
Summary/Abstract: This study aims to understand the role of needy individuals, particularly among members of the duâgûy group that became institutionalized in the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century onwards, within the humanitarian aid practices of the state and society. It is known that individuals receiving social aid from the treasury and foundations in the Ottoman Empire included people with various social disadvantages, and that aid provided by the state was systematic and controlled. The target group of these humanitarian aid practices consisted of the sick, disabled, needy, students, retirees, poor, widows, and orphans—groups also represented among the members of the duâgûyân group, who received salaries despite holding no official duties. Eight percent of all duâgûy posts, allocated to those considered entitled for various reasons, were reserved for such needy individuals. While duâgûy positions granted for humanitarian purposes were permanent, the individuals assigned to these positions varied depending on the circumstances of the period. For instance, when a recipient’s deprivation ended or they acquired another source of income, the position would be assigned to another needy individual. This study argues that, within the framework of the humanitarian aid policies of the period, the state and benefactors made humanitarian aid sustainable by providing regular salaries to disadvantaged individuals in Ottoman society. Additionally, it emphasizes that these practices aimed to reduce social inequality and protect human dignity. The study highlights the historical dimension of the humanitarian aid understanding of the state and benefactors within the borders of the Ottoman Empire. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will contribute to further research in this field and in other disciplines.

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