Research Article

An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers

Number: 29 June 15, 2026
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An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers

Abstract

The concept of state governance has been perceived through different perspectives across ages and historical periods. Public administrative law possesses its own distinctive nature and conceptual framework. The main objective of this study is to examine, within the context of administrative governance, how the state proposal (layiha) that incorporated the principles of good governance and was implemented shortly after the proclamation of the Ottoman Empire’s Constitutional Monarchy (Meşrutiyet) contributed to social life. This period, which corresponds to the aftermath of the First Constitutional Era (I. Meşrutiyet Dönemi), marked the emergence of Sultan Abdulhamid II's distinctive approach to governance. The study investigates the extent to which the urgent administrative needs arising from bureaucratic stagnation within the Ottoman central administration, crises resulting from military decline, major economic difficulties, and social unrest could be met under the prevailing circumstances. Drawing on examples of state proposals designed to operate within a rationalist framework, the research questions the efficiency and applicability of public administrative law across the Ottoman Empire, which encompassed vast territorial boundaries. The study is limited to the last quarter of the 19th century. It is important to note that the reforms, which intensified through the efforts of intellectuals in the Ottoman Empire, contributed to the renewal of public administration. In light of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s new administrative approach and the developments that emerged from it, the study further reveals the direction in which the Empire evolved in its political and public law structure.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declared that this study has no financial support.

Ethical Statement

I declare that this study is original; that I have acted by the principles and rules of scientific ethics at all stages of the study, including preparation, data collection, analysis, and presentation of information; that I have cited sources for all data and information not obtained within the scope of this study and included these sources in the bibliography; that I have not made any changes in the data used, and that I comply with ethical duties and responsibilities by accepting all the terms and conditions of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). I hereby declare that if a situation contrary to my statement regarding the study is detected, I agree to all moral and legal consequences that may arise.

References

  1. Presidency Ottoman Archives (BOA)
  2. BOA, Dâhiliye Mektûbi Kalemi (DH.MKT), 2192/72; 2244/118; 2252/38.
  3. BOA, Hariciye Nezareti Tahrirat, (HR.TH), 207/69.
  4. BOA, İrâde Hususi (İ. HUS), 62/101.
  5. BOA, Yıldız Esas Evrakı, (Y.EE), 4/25; 80/28.
  6. BOA, Yıldız Arzuhal–Jurnal, (Y.PRK.AZJ), 26/23.
  7. BOA, Yıldız Perakende Evrakı Tahrirat-ı Ecnebiye ve Mabeyn Mütercimliği (Y.PRK.TKM), 40/39.
  8. BOA, Yıldız Sadaret Hususi Evrakı (Y.A.HUS), 261/116.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Late Modern Ottoman History

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 15, 2026

Submission Date

September 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 11, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 29

APA
Şahin, M. (2026). An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers. Osmanlı Medeniyeti Araştırmaları Dergisi, 29, 144-178. https://doi.org/10.21021/osmed.1783479
AMA
1.Şahin M. An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers. OSMED. 2026;(29):144-178. doi:10.21021/osmed.1783479
Chicago
Şahin, Meral. 2026. “An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal Within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers”. Osmanlı Medeniyeti Araştırmaları Dergisi, nos. 29: 144-78. https://doi.org/10.21021/osmed.1783479.
EndNote
Şahin M (June 1, 2026) An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers. Osmanlı Medeniyeti Araştırmaları Dergisi 29 144–178.
IEEE
[1]M. Şahin, “An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers”, OSMED, no. 29, pp. 144–178, June 2026, doi: 10.21021/osmed.1783479.
ISNAD
Şahin, Meral. “An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal Within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers”. Osmanlı Medeniyeti Araştırmaları Dergisi. 29 (June 1, 2026): 144-178. https://doi.org/10.21021/osmed.1783479.
JAMA
1.Şahin M. An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers. OSMED. 2026;:144–178.
MLA
Şahin, Meral. “An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal Within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers”. Osmanlı Medeniyeti Araştırmaları Dergisi, no. 29, June 2026, pp. 144-78, doi:10.21021/osmed.1783479.
Vancouver
1.Meral Şahin. An Administrative Analysis of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s 1879 Public Law Proposal within the Framework of a Rational Approach and the Context of the Separation of Powers. OSMED. 2026 Jun. 1;(29):144-78. doi:10.21021/osmed.1783479

Indexes

SCOPUS, TÜBİTAK/ULAKBİM TR DİZİN [SBVT]

INDEX COPERNİCUS [ICI], ISAM, SOBIAD and Scilit.


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