Evaluate the reasons for the failure of the Young Turks to reform the Ottoman Empire after 1908.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the reasons for the failure of the Young Turks’ reform movement, weighing up the strengths and limitations or otherwise of their policies. Candidates may refer to their lack of strong leadership and a clear political programme; their secular attitudes were unpopular with many Muslims; the Ottoman Empire was multicultural and no platform would satisfy all demands. They failed to satisfy the demands of various ethnic and religious groups for independence; their Turkish nationalism alienated minorities; foreign intervention caused resentment of their western, reformist ideas; the Sultan remained popular and encouraged conservative groups. Financial weakness made reforms difficult to achieve. They did have some success in reforming the army. Candidates’ opinions and conclusions must be clearly expressed and supported by relevant evidence.

The question required that candidates make an appraisal of the reasons for the failure of the 'Young Turks' reform movement, weighing up the strengths and limitations or otherwise of their policies. The answers to this question were not strong and showed a lack of knowledge in both depth and breadth, a poor grasp of chronology and context and a clear lack of knowledge with respect to the programme proposed by the Young Turks. Some students fell back on a discussion of the Tanzimat era and others dealt only with the First World War and not the preceding years.