The Institutional Evolution of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Role in Foreign Policy-making (1808-1918)

Abstract

During the height of the Ottoman Empire’s power, it applied and practiced ‘unilateral diplomacy’ and avoided reciprocity. However, at the end of the 18th century, the Ottoman Empire started to adopt ‘mutual diplomacy’, sending permanent ambassadors to European capitals. This process became institutionalized with the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1836. Following the establishment of the Ministry, changes and transformations occurred in its institutional structure, reflecting both the turbulence of the times and changes in the Empire itself. This article examines the evolution of the institutional structure of the Ottoman Foreign Ministry (Hariciye Nezâreti) and explores its changes and continuities between the years 1808–1918 as well as its role in the foreign policy-making process across two levels of analysis, reflecting both internal and external factors.