SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This is a study of a political society called the Committee of Union and Progress (Ittihad ve Terakki Cemiyeti) between the years 1908 and 1913. Because of the role it played in the insurrection which forced the Sultan to re-establish the 1876 Constitution, the Committee emerged as the dominant political group in July 1908. But the Committee's position did not remain unchallenged for long. Political forces which had previously been obscured by the struggle against the Palace came to the surface, and there began a period of political activity and debate unequalled in the history of modern Turkey. I have endeavoured to show that the CUP, while being the dominant political group, never had a monopoly of power during this period. Political and social conditions prevailing within (and without) the Ottoman Empire forced it to share power with the traditional ruling groups, such as the bureaucratic elite symbolised by the Sublime Porte (Babiali) and the army. The Committee also compromised with other political organisations. I have also tried to show how the social and political attributes of the CUP were constantly changing, so that by 1913 the Committee had narrowed down its affiliations and was in a position to establish the 86-called triumvirate of Enver, Cemal and Talât. The thesis has been divided for the sake of convenience and symmetry into five chapters, each chapter ending with an event of major importance. Chapter 1 deals with the rebellion and ends with the restoration of the constitution. Chapter II ends with the counter-revolution of 1909; Chapter III with the resignation of Grand Vezir Hilmi Pasa in December, 1909; it also examines the constitutional amendments. Chapter IV ends with Italy's declaration of war in September 1911, and Chapter V with the coup d'etat of 23 January, 1913. I have concluded this study with some general observations on the period of the Committee of Union and Progress as a whole.