Tanzimat: A Prototype of Turkish Moderinization and a Westernization Movement

Tanzimat, which can be referred to as a large-scale westernization movement, substantially affected the subsequent modernization movements in terms of methodology and understanding. Therefore, it is considered by most of the academia as the true starting point of the Turkish Westernization. Tanzimat is the first step to a fresh-new modern state organization, of the state structure in particular, in every aspect. External developments and domestic turmoil made the Ottoman Empire resort to Tanzimat. Hence, it refers to a renovation process which was predominantly governed by Western countries and initiated bona fide by pioneers who thought that revival could be achieved through a Western model. Such contradictions as state's recovery, West as role model, and failure to give upon the old conventions have always been regarded as a barrier to Tanzimat and the mindsets of the vanguards and been a hotly debated topic. In consideration of the economic, political, and social facts of the time, it is not easy to offer an answer to what other renovation methods would be adopted. The primary concern of the present study is to reveal whether Tanzimat, relying on modernization of governmental structure and rights and freedoms, can be considered as a true renovation in the Westernization of the Ottoman Empire and what kind of an understanding it bequeathed to the following periods in terms of social change. The fact that Tanzimat dignitaries were incapable of reorganizing the efforts in a purposeful, well-planned, systematic manner independent of the Western impositions and training the human resources able to appreciate and apply them before the implementations hampered the intended achievement. However, even though it could please no one and achieve the desired goals, Tanzimat, in consideration of its intellectual activities, can be regarded as both a necessity and a right endeavor from a great many perspectives. This study follows a methodology where primary sources and scientific studies concerning the period are reviewed and analyzed.

Keywords

Modernization, Westernization, The Tanzimat and Social Change