Roads to modernity: Empire, nations and East/West relations in the Ottoman world, c. 1800-2000

The countries of Southeastern Europe and the Middle East have often been portrayed as shaped by age-old conflicts and cultural patterns that stand in the way of modernisation. Such perceptions have historical roots in nineteenth-century Western views of the Ottoman Empire as Europe’s “Other” and the “sick man of Europe”. At the same time, they overlook the fact that many of the region’s conflicts emerged in connection with the Ottoman Empire’s own attempts at modernisation. In this course, you examine how the Ottoman Empire and several of its successor states in Southeastern Europe and the Middle East responded to rapid modernisation in societies characterised by ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity. The course addresses topics including nationalism, democratic institutions, and authoritarian rule. Drawing on perspectives from nationalism studies, genocide studies, and memory studies, you explore the significance of the Ottoman experience for the region’s political and cultural development. The course provides you with an in-depth understanding of the late Ottoman Empire and its successor states while developing your ability to analyse historical, cultural, and societal issues. You will also practise placing contemporary debates about the Middle East and the Balkans in their historical contexts and critically examining and discussing academic research. Teaching consists of lectures and/or seminars, as well as compulsory assignments.