The Role of the Committee of Union and Progress on the Balkan Alliances

When the Second Constitution Era was declared by the Committee of Union and Progress theidea of establishing a nation-state wasn’t developed yet. However, the Committee of Union and Progresshad found common ground with the Balkan nations. This was to overthrow the regime of Abdul Hamid.It was thought that declaration of the Constitution would solve all the problems in the Balkans. However,contrary to expectations, atmosphere of peace and friendship lasted for a very short. Non-Muslims wereconcerned about the awakening of the Empire under the leadership of the Turkish majority. This wouldthreaten the privileges of religious communities that organized under the “millet” system. Non-Turkishsocieties were afraid of centralization and Turkification policies of the Committee of Union and Progress.To prevent this, they were relied on the states such as England, France, Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. it was known that those states wouldn’t take kindly to Turkish affords that wouldchallenge their hegomony in the region. These states were concerned that they will lose their acquiredrights in the Ottoman Empire.In this study, the Committee of Union and Progress’s centralization and Turkification policiesin the economy, education and foreign policy areas and the purpose of “the Unity of the Elements”( ttihad- Anas r) will be analyzed. And the alliances formed against the Ottoman Empire as a resultof these policies will be studied.