Formation of the Modern State

Challenges the paradigm of the societal decline as inadequate for understanding the Ottoman society and state during this period. This book evaluates the established historical view of the Ottoman Empire as an Eastern despotic nation-state in decline, and instead analyzes it as a modern state comparable to contemporary states in Europe and Asia. With extensive new material, this classic book - now in a second edition - challenges the current paradigm of the societal decline as inadequate for understanding the Ottoman society and state during this period. Rifa'at 'Ali Abou-El-Haj reevaluates the established historical view of the Ottoman Empire as an Eastern despotic nation-state in decline and instead analyzes it as a modern state comparable to contemporary states in Europe and Asia.