![]() The events, however, were rooted in a collaborative pursuit of self-interests by the British fighting the Central Powers on the one hand, and Sharif Husayn bin ‘Ali, King of Hejaz (c. Despite this, Arab nationalism as a political movement was not fully formulated until after World War I, and the majority of Arab Ottoman subjects still primarily identified with their family, tribe, or religion rather than their “Arabness.” Throughout the challenging events of the war and the end of the empire, most Arabs generally did not question the legitimacy of Ottoman rule over Muslim lands with the sultan as the caliph of the Muslim ummah.Īgainst this backdrop, the leaders of the Arab Revolt launched their rebellion in the name of Arab and Muslim unity, freedom, and independence. In addition, suppression of Arab nationalist activities during the war, such as the members of Arabist societies in Syria, further reinforced the image of Ottomans as oppressors. ![]() Attended by twenty-five official delegates from various Arab nationalist societies, as well as several unofficial delegates, the Congress discussed greater local Arab administrative control, demanded that Arabic become the official language of the Arab regions, and called for the right of the empire’s Arab soldiers to perform their military service locally. In 1913, the First Arab Congress convened in Paris to discuss the rights of Arabs under Ottoman rule. Measures like this contributed in part to a growing sense of marginalization and oppression among segments of the empire’s Arab population.Īs apprehension about the empire’s position, identity, and future grew, political articulations of an Arab identity as distinct from the Turkish governing entity began to emerge. A notable feature was the government’s firm commitment to pursuing a policy of centralization, which involved enforcing the use of Ottoman Turkish throughout the empire in post-elementary education and state institutions. The reform period brought with it a series of profound social and political transformations, including the hope of inclusivity for minorities and representational politics. The reforms included establishing an Ottoman constitution and parliament during the First Constitutional Era (1876-1878), which were dissolved in 1879 but reinstated in 1908. The aim was to modernize the state and regain its declining control over its subjects. Facing internal dissent and increasing external pressures, Ottoman government began to implement European-inspired reforms during the 19 th century, commonly referred to as the Tanzimat era. As nationalist movements gained momentum in Europe during the 19 th and 20 th centuries, minorities within the Ottoman Empire such as the Greeks (1821-1832), Bulgarians (1876), and Serbians (1804-1817) revolted against the regime seeking various levels of autonomy and independence.
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