“We Will Adopt the Technology of Europe but not European Morality” The Quest for Authentic Values in Late Ottoman Politics

The Ottoman Empire underwent a significant reform period beginning from the late 18th century to adopt successful European practices. The main idea was to save the state from its downfall by bringing an end to the territorial losses, preventing nationalist/separatist movements from gaining power, and adopting modern forms of governance with the establishment of a central state. While the reforms concerning military, commercial, and political life were considered necessary for the progress of country, the impacts of these over social life and the limits of Europeanization remained as the most debate that survived up to day. This paper discusses the political, social, and cultural implications of “Europeanization” in Ottoman/Turkish context and investigates the quest for authentic morality as a particular notion of opposition toward Europeanization. In doing so, I attempt to demonstrate the role of this quest in ideological contests throughout the Late Ottoman era and the Early Turkish Republic.