The Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople and Its Contesting of Reforms Introduced in the Ottoman Empire

Abstract

The comprehensive reforms regarding education policies in the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century were characterized by French-style secularization efforts. French-inspired communitarianism and secularization played a key role in the dispute between the Orthodox patriarchate, which insisted on keeping its traditional privileges, and state institutions, which were increasingly centralized in order to establish a common base, especially in matters pertaining to education.
Two main institutions claiming to be in charge of the population were competing with each other. On the one hand, the state claimed to be entitled to provide a legal framework applicable to all, one by which everyone would be measured, and one toward which everyone would have to orient himself/herself. The modern state called for omnipresence through its laws and its mediating institutions, and demanded a monopoly on the legitimate use of force in order to intervene in all social processes.
On the other hand, the patriarchate as a religious institution had its own religious interests and identity politics, and considered itself to be in charge of its followers. This in turn resulted in competition and conflicts, which did not exist prior to the reform period, at least not in the area of education policy. Until that time the society had been segregated by religion, and it envisaged parallel societies that were relatively autonomous in regard to matters pertaining to education and identity.
In the course of the reforms, questions regarding integration or assimilation, inclusion or exclusion, unity or parallel societies were posed again.
Throughout the entire reform period and up to the end of the Ottoman Empire, the transformation of the historic privileges enjoyed by the patriarchate resulted in a conflict of interests between the increasingly centralized Ottoman state and the Greek Orthodox patriarchate, which found itself challenged by liberal secularization and national homogenization efforts.
Based on new basic research the essay presents details of this development, which in turn corresponded to the developments of other social entities.