Navigating Bureaucratic Transition From Below: Petitioning Practices of Late Ottoman Purge Victims (1909-12)

Abstract

Abstract The restoration of the constitution in 1908 heralded a new era in Ottoman state administration. This included the dismissal of thousands of bureaucrats of various ranks. The victims of the purges grappled with the challenges of constitutional rule as they explored potential means to regain their roles within the state bureaucracy. This article examines the petitions authored by dismissed officials after the tensikast law was enacted in early July 1909, revealing the complex interplay between traditional and modern elements in their structure and content. Our analysis of the petitions, treated as a compulsory form of liminal petitioning, offers insights into the adaptive strategies of the dismissed officials during a period of political transition, shedding light on the dynamic nature of petitioning practices amidst significant bureaucratic upheaval in the late Ottoman Empire. © 2025 Mustafa Ilter.