FROM FRENK TO THE CIVILIZED: EUROPE IN OTTOMAN-TURKISH IMAGINATION

Authors : İbrahim Şirin

Pages : 565-585

Doi:10.33692/avrasyad.1791088

View : 68 | Download : 280

Publication Date : 2025-12-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study explores Ottoman and early Republican conceptions of Europe, showing how perceptions shifted according to political, military, and cultural contexts. In the classical period, Europe was viewed as inferior, hostile, and morally corrupt. Ottoman superiority, expressed through the ideology of gaza (holy war), positioned Europeans as “Frenk” in opposition to the heroic “Gazi.” Military success reinforced this hierarchical view. Following the Treaty of Karlowitz (1699), defeats forced the empire to re-evaluate Europe. Bureaucratic elites (Kalemiye) adopted European models as tools to strengthen their political influence against conservative groups such as the Janissaries and the ulema. This tension between reformists and traditionalists shaped Ottoman modernization, with key figures like Reşid Pasha using Europe diplomatically while introducing domestic reforms such as the Tanzimat. A third conception emerged in the 19th century: Europe was technologically and scientifically superior but morally flawed. International exhibitions, particularly the Paris Expositions of 1867 and 1878, impressed Ottoman elites, reinforcing both admiration for progress and anxiety over decline. Intellectuals such as Ahmet Mithat and Sadullah Pasha emphasized liberty, science, and education as paths to renewal, while still criticizing Europe’s imperialism. During the Constitutional Era, debates over Ottoman identity crystallized into three ideological paradigms: Ottomanism, Islamism, and Turkism. Each relied on Europe as a reference point—whether to emulate, resist, or adapt. Writers like Halil Halid and Ahmet Rıza also sought to counter European prejudices, exposing imperial hypocrisy. In the early Republican period, Europe remained central, though America emerged as a new model. Thinkers like Falih Rıfkı Atay highlighted America’s dynamism compared to Europe’s stagnation. Yet, the notion of “being European despite Europe” persisted, demonstrating both dependence on and ambivalence toward the West. Ultimately, Ottoman and Republican intellectuals constructed their own modernity through continuous dialogue with Europe.
Keywords : Avrupa, Osmanlı, Cumhuriyet, Medeniyet, İmgelem.

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