On Philip Abrams and a Multi-Faceted “Historical Event”: The Urabi Movement (1879-1882) in Egypt

Year 2018, , 170 - 184, 30.04.2018

Ozan Aşık

https://doi.org/10.18795/gumusmaviatlas.418526

Abstract

This article explores the Urabi Revolt (1879-1882) in
Egypt as a unique historical event from Philip Abrams’ theoretical perspective.
Abrams argues that the extent of the complexity and uniqueness of a historical
event can be assessed based on the conjunction of various elements and aspects
the event embodies. The Urabi movement represents a “puzzle of the complex
factors”, to use Abrams’ terminology, which impacts a large-scale social
transformation – the transition of Egypt from a Middle Eastern monarchy to a
modern nation-state. Departing from this point of view, in the article, I argue
that the Urabi movement was a convergence of a range of loosely related
developments over the course of a historical event. Hence the question here is
not about choosing a single development among a variety of them and focusing on
it to explain the whole process, but about capturing how each development
shaped the course and character of the event and to what degree.

Keywords

Egypt, Historical Sociology, Historical Event, Philip Abrams, Urabi Revolt

Philip Abrams ve Çok Yönlü Bir “Tarihsel Olay” Üzerine: Mısır’daki Urabi Hareketi (1879-1882)

Abstract

Bu makale,
Philip Abrams’ın teorik perspektifinden Mısır’daki Urabi İsyanı’nı (1879-1882) özgün
bir tarihsel olay olarak incelemektedir. Abrams tarihsel bir olayın
özgünlüğünün ve karmaşıklığının boyutunun o olayın temsil ettiği çeşitli öğe ve
özelliklerinin bileşimi üzerinden değerlendirilebileceğini tartışmaktadır.
Abrams’ın terminolojisini kullanacak olursak, Urabi Hareketi büyük çaplı bir
toplumsal dönüşümü – Mısır’ın bir Orta Doğu monarşisinden modern ulus-devlete
geçişi – etkileyen karmaşık faktörlerden oluşan bir bulmaca şeklinde ortaya
çıkar. Bu bakış açısından hareketle, bu makalede Urabi Hareketi’nin tarihsel
bir olay sürecinde bir araya gelen birbiriyle ilintili farklı gelişmelerin bir
bütünü olduğunu tartışmaktayım. Dolayısıyla buradaki mevzu, bütün bir süreci
açıklamada bir çok gelişme arasından tek bir tarihsel gelişmeyi seçip ona odaklanmak
değil, her bir gelişmenin olayın karakteri ve sürecini nasıl ve ne derece
şekillendirdiğini kavramaktır.

Keywords

Mısır, Tarihsel Sosyoloji, Tarihsel Olay, Philip Abrams, Urabi İsyanı

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