From Decline to Transformation: Reflections on a New Paradigm in Ottoman History

Abstract

This article addresses transformation as a newly emerging paradigm in the field of Ottoman studies. It examines the relationship between two historiographical sequences: first, the decline theories widely supported by Ottoman studies of the 16th to 18th century conducted over the last three decades of the 20th century are criticised; second, the characterization of the 19th century as a new golden age of transformation in articles and books published in increasing numbers during the last twenty years is put under scrutiny. After questioning the novelty of this paradigm in light of dominant yet hackneyed themes, this paper proposes to measure its usefulness in terms of challenges and opportunities for research. Overall, it appears on the one hand that if transformationism differs from declinism in that it denies providing a comprehensive model of analysis, on the other hand it mimics it insofar as it still depends on two dominant traits which it directly claimed to avoid - the omnipotence of the history of institutions and a theory of modernization that dares not speak its name. In short, under the pretence of an appeal to paradigmatic renewal, this statement of principle only reproduces old historiographical habits.