The International aspect of Circassian Involvement to the Young Turk movement in the 19th century

Abstract

The author traces the role of North Caucasian emigrants (Circassians) in the Young Turk movement. For a long time, since the 19th century, Circassian question have maintained high political importance on the international agenda, turning Circassians and their projected North Caucasian state into a proto-subject of international relations. The main support for such subjectivisation was provided by Great Britain, but uptothe end ofthe 19th century Circassian issues had lost much of its importance for the British Empire. This context allows us to take a fresh look at the little-studied topic of participation of Circassians in the Young Turk movement, one of the main centres of which was Egypt under British control.

Keywords

• ottoman empire
• young turks
• circassians
• caucasus
• committee of union and progress
• nationalism