Reconciliation of the Spirits and Fusion of the Interests - "Ottomanism" as an Identity Politics
Reconciliation of the Spirits and Fusion of the Interests - "Ottomanism" as an Identity Politics

Author(s): Aleksander Vezenkov
Subject(s): Human Geography, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Sociology of Culture
Published by: Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS)
Keywords: national traditions of social and political thinking in Southeastern Europe; European nation states; Ottomanism; Ottoman Empire;
Summary/Abstract: The history of the different national traditions of social and political thinking in Southeastern Europe is usually examined in their relationship with the developments in the leading European nation states. This is certainly a legitimate approach, but it should be added that beside the multiple interactions between the "marginalized," "small nations" in the "periphery" and the "European core" there was one more major actor – the multinational empires in the Eastern part of the continent. They had their identity politics, which failed in the long run, but had a considerable influence during the 19th century. In what concerns the Ottoman Empire, almost all studies mention these politics, usually referred to as "Ottomanism," but very few of them examine it. This article focuses on "Ottomanism" as a problem in its own right, but also raises the question of the impact of these politics on the national discourses in the region.

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