%0 Journal Article %T Pax Ottomanica: Philosophical Background of the Millet System %J - %D 2018 %X This study aims to shed light on the philosophical background of the Ottoman millet system. First, I will review the nature of collective identity to establish a basis for further identity-related discussions and define the term of ¡°Pax Ottomanica¡±. Then I will explain diverse and complicated utilizations of identity to clarify the scope of the key concepts of this article. Finally, I will identify the theoretical sources of Ottoman millet system within Islamic philosophy and show how it affected practical implementation. Since al-F¨¡r¨¡b¨© and Ibn Bajjah political theory has reflected theoretical approaches to governance that closely parallel the practical usage of Ottoman millet system I will argue that these approaches can reasonably be considered inspirational sources and justifications for the millet system. Especially considering that the millet system maintained a policy of the protection of religious identities through detachment, I conclude that al- F¨¡r¨¡b¨©¡¯s and Ibn Bajjah¡¯s political theories were highly influential in shaping the practical implementation of the millet system %K Millet Sistemi %K pax ottomanica %U http://dergipark.org.tr/yaduitmed/issue/43279/526286