Elite Configurations and Clusters of Power: The Ulema, Waqf, and Ottoman State (1789-1839)

Tez İngilizce Sosyal Bilimler× Tarih×

Künye:

Yazarlar:

Selim ARGUN

Ekle

Danışmanlar:

Ali Üner TURGAY

Ekle

Yayın Yılı:

2013

Yayın Yeri:

Montreal

Seviye:

DOKTORA

Kurum:

McGill University

Bölüm:

Institute Of Islamic Studies

İçerik Dosyası:

Web adresi:

http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item?id=TC-QMM-116860&op=pdf&app=Library&oclc_number=922008057

Operatör:

Şafak Varol

Güncelleyen:

Yağız Fatih Nazlıer

Özet:

Through the prism of Richard Lachmann’s ‘elite conflict theory of historical
contingency,’ this dissertation brings a new perspective and a fresh
interpretation to the study of the attitudes of the Ottoman central ulema toward
the pre-Tanzimat Westernizing reforms. Contrary to the prevailing view of
intra-elite vertical dichotomy conflict as the primary basis for ulema reactions,
this research proposes inter-elite horizontal conflict as the root cause for the
failure of the reform initiatives. Moreover, this study challenges the commonlyheld belief that the goal of centralization of the revenues of religious
endowments by the ruling authority was to silence ulema opposition to the
Westernizing reforms. Instead, through a detailed examination of the evolution
of early European taxation models and fiscal centralization trajectories, this
research concludes that the Mahmudian centralization of awqaf should be seen,
rather, as an emulation of the wider eco-geographic trend in response to the
historical challenges faced by European states and the Ottoman Empire. By
problematizing the prevailing nomenclature of Ottoman historiography, this
research clarifies the longstanding misconceptions attached to the term ‘ulema.’
Finally, through a comprehensive survey of waqf-elite relations, this study will
advance the understanding of the dynamics of the pre-Tanzimat Ottoman
Empire.