bilig-33/ Spring 2005

Some Comments on the failure of the Ottomans in becoming a Capitalist Society

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul KIZILKAYA

Abstract: From a classical perspective of Ottoman economic history, the lack of the formation of institutional processes ha- ving a significant role in the development of capitalism is re-ferred as among the causes of the failure of joining the men- tioned social-political-economic structure to capitalism. In this context, that the market mechanism could not be opera-ted and some structural elements such as capital accumulati- on and salaried labour could not be observed is given as examples. However, it should be considered that some con- ceptual frameworks examining the Ottoman other than this at- titude could be significant as well. Within this frame, the im-portance of Thorstein B. Veblen's traditional view of institu­tional change and the mentality issues that are put forward in parallel with the thoughts of Sabri Ülgener-Ahmed Güner Sa­ yar should also be emphasized. When we take into considera- tion the impacts of Veblen's insistence on the traditions' inf- luence on social change, concepts such as custom, conquest and confiscation are observed to be important factors causing to stay behind the development line of the Western Europe. Another dimension to be included is that the elements added by Sayar to the agenda of discussions, namely the conscious- ness of feudal landownership dating back to the Byzantium, Turkish custom inherited from Asia and the Islamic mysti- cism that became institutionalized after the Islamic faith espe- cially in Anatolia shape the developmental dynamics of the Ottoman Empire. These important elements of institutional factors have formed considerable obstacles preventing the Ot­ toman from reaching a rational economic mentality.

Key Words : Ottoman Empire, Capitalism, Tradition, Mentality.