A New Conceptualization Concerning Ottoman Political Thought
Upon the signs of corruption in the administration and bureaucracy, a new literature which focuses with a new pattern on the administrative issues came into being. This genre bared authentic features, especially with its suggestions, critiques, interpretation of the past and references to the past. There has been serious conceptual confusion on the identification of this genre. Here, it is argued that ıslahatname is the most correct concept for these historical sources. This article aims to introduce a new conceptualization concerning the sources that are frequently referred in the Ottoman political thought and then presents the leading examples of the genre. It also evaluates the critiques addressed to these sources and attempts to bring in a new approach in reading and understanding them. After discussing their importance in the Ottoman social and political thought, it assesses their role in the history of Turkish/Ottoman reform tradition.
COŞKUN YILMAZ
