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Difficulty: MediumRise of Modern Nationalism and Nation-State Unification

Source: Excerpt from the Ottoman Constitution of 1876, promulgated by Sultan Abdul Hamid II.

"All subjects of the Empire are called Ottomans, without distinction, whatever religion they profess. The status of an Ottoman is acquired and lost according to law. All Ottomans are equal in the eyes of the law. They have the same rights and owe the same duties towards the country, without prejudice to religion. All Ottomans are admitted to public service according to their fitness, merit, and ability. Every Ottoman is free to practice his religion, provided that it does not disturb public order or shock public decency."

Based on the passage, which of the following political strategies of multiethnic empires in the nineteenth century does this constitution best reflect?

  1. A
    The adoption of Marxist revolutionary goals to dismantle capitalist institutions and establish classless societies
  2. B
    The implementation of state policies based on Social Darwinism to systematically rank the biological fitness of ethnic groups
  3. The creation of an inclusive civic identity to neutralize nationalist independence movements among minority populationsAnswer
  4. D
    The division of the empire into decentralized feudal lordships to restore traditional medieval political relations

Answer

The creation of an inclusive civic identity to neutralize nationalist independence movements among minority populations
The correct answer is correct because the document outlines the core principles of 'Ottomanism,' a state-sponsored ideology of the late Tanzimat and early constitutional eras. By declaring all subjects equal 'Ottomans' regardless of religion or ethnicity, the imperial government attempted to construct a unified civic identity. This strategy was designed to counter the rise of ethnic nationalism and secessionist movements, particularly among Christian minorities in the Balkans, by offering them equal status within the empire.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source document for key political goals and concepts.
The text states that all subjects, regardless of religion, are defined as equal 'Ottomans' under the law and have equal access to public service.
Identifying the core message of the source (universal citizenship and equality) is necessary to determine the government's intent.
2
Contextualize the document within the historical developments of the late nineteenth-century Ottoman Empire.
During the Tanzimat era and the subsequent constitutional period, the Ottoman Empire faced severe threat of disintegration due to nationalist independence movements in its Balkan territories.
Understanding the external and internal pressures of nationalism helps explain why the empire sought to redefine its relation to its subjects.
3
Connect the policy of 'Ottomanism' to the broader historical pattern of nation-state unification and nationalism.
Fostering a shared civic identity (Ottomanism) was a direct counter-strategy to ethnic nationalism, aiming to keep diverse populations loyal to a single centralized state.
This aligns the source analysis directly with the learning objective regarding the rise of nationalism and imperial responses.

Key Concept

Ottomanism and Imperial Responses to Nationalism
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Topics

Rise of Modern Nationalism and Nation-State Unification

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