I.DÜNYA HARBİ VE OSMANLI KAMUOYU: GÜNLÜK VE HATIRALAR ÜZERİNDEN BİR DEĞERLENDİRME

Abstract

In general, public opinion is defined as the prevailing opinion shared among a group or groups which dealing with a raising issue at a certain time. According to this definition, public opnion includes opinions which supported by the majority. As for other definition, public opinion is the opinions that is directed by different communities towards governments and required to be considered by those governments. So, public opnion is a sort of political participation. Ottoman Empire was destroyed after a four-years war, and then the Republic was founded. The responsibility of entering the war on the side of Germany after the defeat, which caused the end of empire, was attributed to a handful of administrators. Especially Enver, Cemal and Talat Pashas were held responsible for this rout. The responsibility of these persons, who were in the dominant position in decision-making, could not be denied. But, is it possible to believe that just the decisions of these persons caused the end of the empire? Was there any public opinion behind the decision of entering war on the side of Germany which affected these administrators? If yes, what were the factors shaping the public opinion? The witnesses from the period, when the war began, showed that the administrators were not alone in terms of their pro-war attitude. It can be said that the Ottoman public opinion was generally shaped in favor of the war. In this regard, it seems that some nationalist organizations and groups such as Türk Ocağı (Turkish Society), Donanma Cemiyeti (Armada Society), Müdafaa-i Milliye Cemiyeti, were effective in shaping public opnion. Among with the Balkan War nationalist propagandas increased it’s influence and the disasters, which caused by the Balkan War, have opened a deep gap between muslims and non-muslims. In fact, Ottomanism failed after the Balkan War and the nationalist movemet, which expanding from Turkism to Turanism, has gained momentum. Particulary, Turanist and Pan- Islamist war propaganda was densely carried during August- November in 1914, which had a wide impact upon the young generation at that time. Under these circumstances, war was seen as legitimate and necessary alternative.