Paper title:
 Language and Identity. The Role of Arab Organisations in Resisting the Young Turks Turkification
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4316/CC.2025.02.03
Published in:
Issue 2 (Vol. 31) / 2025
Publishing date:
2025-12-31
Pages:
371 - 388
Author(s):
Aram Ashot Gasparyan
Abstract:
 In the context of the Ottomanist ideology adopted by the Young Turks during their rule from 1908 to 1914, the article examines the status of Arabic as a crucial tool in the struggle for Arab autonomy. Arab nationalists, recognising the implications of Young Turk policies for the Arab regions within the Ottoman Empire, as well as the overtly nationalist (Turkish supremacy) stance of the “Ittihad ve Terakki” (Union and Progress) party, compelled newly formed Arab parties and organisations to reassess their positions and strategies. They began to advocate for their national interests, which were at odds with the Young Turks’ policies and ideology. Arab national parties and organisations viewed Ottomanism as a barrier to the political and cultural autonomy of the Arab population. While Ottomanism was intended to promote unity and equality within the multiethnic Ottoman Empire, it ultimately established unity on the basis of the dominance of Turkish culture and language. Within this framework, protecting the Arabic language and addressing its status became not only a means of preserving cultural heritage but also a symbol of resistance against forced Turkification and assimilation, as well as a struggle for national identity and autonomy. Arab national parties and organisations emphasised the need to recognise Arabic as the official language in the empire’s Arab regions in their programmes and messages. They considered the unrestricted use of Arabic in education, management, and administration as essential, viewing it as a critical step towards ensuring the political, administrative, and cultural autonomy of the Arab population within the empire.


Keywords:
 Linguistic Assimilation, Young Turks, Arab Nationalism, Ottoman Empire, Language Policy, Arabic Parties.




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