Shattered Dreams of Revolution

From Liberty to Violence in the Late Ottoman Empire

Nonfiction, History, Middle East, Modern, 20th Century
Cover of the book Shattered Dreams of Revolution by Bedross Der Matossian, Stanford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Bedross Der Matossian ISBN: 9780804792707
Publisher: Stanford University Press Publication: October 15, 2014
Imprint: Stanford University Press Language: English
Author: Bedross Der Matossian
ISBN: 9780804792707
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Publication: October 15, 2014
Imprint: Stanford University Press
Language: English

The Ottoman revolution of 1908 is a study in contradictions—a positive manifestation of modernity intended to reinstate constitutional rule, yet ultimately a negative event that shook the fundamental structures of the empire, opening up ethnic, religious, and political conflicts. Shattered Dreams of Revolution considers this revolutionary event to tell the stories of three important groups: Arabs, Armenians, and Jews. The revolution raised these groups' expectations for new opportunities of inclusion and citizenship. But as post-revolutionary festivities ended, these euphoric feelings soon turned to pessimism and a dramatic rise in ethnic tensions. The undoing of the revolutionary dreams could be found in the very foundations of the revolution itself. Inherent ambiguities and contradictions in the revolution's goals and the reluctance of both the authors of the revolution and the empire's ethnic groups to come to a compromise regarding the new political framework of the empire ultimately proved untenable. The revolutionaries had never been wholeheartedly committed to constitutionalism, thus constitutionalism failed to create a new understanding of Ottoman citizenship, grant equal rights to all citizens, and bring them under one roof in a legislative assembly. Today as the Middle East experiences another set of revolutions, these early lessons of the Ottoman Empire, of unfulfilled expectations and ensuing discontent, still provide important insights into the contradictions of hope and disillusion seemingly inherent in revolution.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The Ottoman revolution of 1908 is a study in contradictions—a positive manifestation of modernity intended to reinstate constitutional rule, yet ultimately a negative event that shook the fundamental structures of the empire, opening up ethnic, religious, and political conflicts. Shattered Dreams of Revolution considers this revolutionary event to tell the stories of three important groups: Arabs, Armenians, and Jews. The revolution raised these groups' expectations for new opportunities of inclusion and citizenship. But as post-revolutionary festivities ended, these euphoric feelings soon turned to pessimism and a dramatic rise in ethnic tensions. The undoing of the revolutionary dreams could be found in the very foundations of the revolution itself. Inherent ambiguities and contradictions in the revolution's goals and the reluctance of both the authors of the revolution and the empire's ethnic groups to come to a compromise regarding the new political framework of the empire ultimately proved untenable. The revolutionaries had never been wholeheartedly committed to constitutionalism, thus constitutionalism failed to create a new understanding of Ottoman citizenship, grant equal rights to all citizens, and bring them under one roof in a legislative assembly. Today as the Middle East experiences another set of revolutions, these early lessons of the Ottoman Empire, of unfulfilled expectations and ensuing discontent, still provide important insights into the contradictions of hope and disillusion seemingly inherent in revolution.

More books from Stanford University Press

Cover of the book Infectious Change by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Isolate or Engage by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Religion in Public by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Security Assurances and Nuclear Nonproliferation by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book A Genealogy of the Modern Self by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book State and Agents in China by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Weird John Brown by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book When the War Came Home by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Coercive Concern by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book On Flexibility by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Flesh of My Flesh by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Mandarin Brazil by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Teach for Arabia by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Brazil's Steel City by Bedross Der Matossian
Cover of the book Days of Revolution by Bedross Der Matossian
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy