The Rise of Albanian Nationalism and the Educational Controversy over Albanian-Language Instruction in the Late Ottoman Empire

Bibliographic Data

ID22002805
AuthorsCaner Yelbaşı (0000-0002-5234-3959, Mardin Artuklu University, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume10
Issue2
Pages2585-2609
Publication date2025-09-30
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueVakanüvis uluslararası tarih araştırmaları dergisi/Vakanüvis-uluslararası tarih araştırmaları dergisi (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2149-9535 • E-ISSN: 2636-7777
PublisherVakanuvis International Journal of Historical Researches (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.24186/vakanuvis.1553722
OpenAlexW4414656172
LanguageEN
References cited13

Until the mid-19th century, Albanians were among the groups with whom the Ottoman Empire experienced the least conflict. However, nationalism—intensified by the French Revolution—began to influence non-Muslim communities in the Empire from the early 19th century onwards. As the Empire faced growing economic, military, and administrative challenges, alongside increasing demands for autonomy and independence across the Balkans, the idea of nationalism also began to take root among Albanians, particularly through the Albanian elites. In this atmosphere of rising nationalism, the demand for education in the Albanian language evolved into a major point of contention between the Ottoman administration and Albanian nationalists. While the Ottoman authorities opposed Albanian-language education on the grounds that it would undermine the ideal of "Ottoman unity," Albanian nationalists—believing the Empire’s days in the Balkans were numbered—saw it as an essential step toward establishing "national unity." This article explores the emergence of Albanian nationalism in the late 19th century as both a reaction to other Balkan nationalisms and a challenge to Ottoman central authority, with a particular focus on the struggle over Albanian-language education

Autonomy · Empire · Nationalism · Nationalist Movement · Ottoman empire · Balkans: History, Politics, Society · Philippine History and Culture · Turkey's Politics and Society

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