Abstract:

The concept of consultation has an important place in Ottoman political thought and discourse. The concept, which is traditionally included in the meaning of advisory councils and consultation, gains a political new meaning, especially with the New Ottomans Society. Later, the meaning of the concept is sharpened by the Young Turks and finally extends to constitutionalism. In the current studies, New Ottoman and Young Turk thought are examined, but there is no historical examination of concepts specific to these societies’ interpretation of the concept of consultation. In our article, the development of the concept of consultation in New Ottoman and Young Turk thought is examined in order to eliminate this deficiency. The study is carried out in the context of Hürriyet newspapers for the New Ottomans, Meşveret newspapers for the Young Turks. In the end, it is concluded that the consultation was included in the political discourse by the New Ottomans and that its political character was made permanent by the Young Turks.

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