Did you miss us? We’re back again introducing our next author Güneş Işıksel to you!
Işıksel is Associate professor at Istanbul Medeniyet University. He is an expert in Ottoman #emdiplomacy and published not only in Turkish but also in French and English. (2/7)
His monograph focusses on #emdiplomacy under Selim I. So who could be better than Işıksel for writing the #handbook article on the development of Ottoman #diplomacy?! (3/7)
The Ottoman Empire is an important actor in #emdiplomacy. Many European researchers look at the relations of different European countries to the Ottoman Empire. But these accounts are often onesided, as they lack the required language skills. Therefore, we are very happy to have found an expert who can take on the Ottoman perspective! (4/7)
Işıksel explains that Ottoman #emdiplomacy had to be in line with the precepts of the Hanafite school of Islamic law. However, these principles were regularly re-interpreted and adapted. Traditional European historiography sees the main shift in Ottoman #diplomacy in the 19th c. with the establishment of permanent embacys. However, Işıksel argues that this Eurocentric view ignores the many other diplomatic contacts and thus propose a different periodisation. (5/7)
The first phase until the 1520s was characterised by bilateral treaties and marriage alliances with occasional exchanges of envoys.
This reciprocal approach changed fundamentally in the second phase (1520s to 1780s). From now on agreements were presented as an act of grace by the sultan. One did not meet with other powers on the same level anymore, but from a position of superiority.
In the third and final phase one can observed an increasing familiarity on the Ottoman side with #emdiplomacy and international law.
However, Işıksel warns us to be careful with such periodisations, as they tend to symplify matters and thus ignore the many variatons of Ottoman #emdiplomacy. (6/7)
In his #handbook article Işıksel gives an overview on Ottoman adminstration concerned with diplomatic affairs and Ottoman #emdiplomacysSources, thus giving us insights into the functioning of #emdiplomacy.
He thereby stresses that there’s still much research to do, especially with regard to Ottoman #emdiplomats, their social backgrounds and their education.
Işıksel further explores the spheres of diplomatic activities of the Ottoman Empire: missions abroad, Istanbul as a central hub for #emdiplomacy and its involvement in congress diplomacy.
He finally argues that we should be careful not see the Ottoman Empire as a passive actor that was slowly integrated into European #emdiplomacy. Instead these processes were complex and multidimensional with the Ottomans adapting things according to their own ideas. (7/7)