How Young Turk Proclamation Document Can Be Considered in the Tradition Springing from the French Revolution - Essay Example

number How Young Turk Proclamation Document Can Be Considered in the Tradition Springing from the French Revolution, and How They Depart from The Tradition Context of the Two Documents The Young Turks: Proclamation for the Ottoman Empire, 1908 This is a document covering several issues on the governance and maintenance of order in the society. It include covering issues on human rights, control of government property, and other civil rights of Ottoman citizens. The contents of the document include: The reason for the establishment and existence of the constitution. How the nation controls the naming and the number of senators. It also controls their term. Description of citizens with the right to guidance on free formation of political groups. The rule on what the official language the Ottoman citizens should use. Rules on citizen’s employment rights, right to liberty and the right to equality, irrespective of religion, and nationality Rules on religious privileges. Guidance on what should be done when it comes to reorganization of state forces. Property rights rules. Education and operation of educational institutions. The responsibility of the state in school operations. The law on the country’s welfare and measures taken to improve its wealth. Declaration of the Rights of Man – 1789 This is a document formed to help reduce public calamities and corruption of governments. It is a formal declaration of the privileges of human race that should be respected. The purpose of the declaration is to remind all the supporters of the social sector of their privileges and moralities in the society. It is to ensure there is respect for the acts of executive and legislative power. The formal declaration was also developed in order to maintain the constitution and ensure happiness for all citizens. Contents about the rights of man include: Inborn rights and social distinctions. The role of political associations in preservation of the rights of human race. The rules on principles of sovereignty. What liberty is and the exercise of natural rights. It also offers guidance on limits of exercise of natural rights. The laws guiding the exercise of natural rights, what is prohibited and what is not. Equality in expression of law. Rules guiding imprisonment, arrests and accusations. Laws guiding provision of punishments. The role of the law on repressing harshness in securing a prisoner. Freedom of expression of opinions and views. Free communication laws. Requirements of security rights. Rules about management of public forces and administration. Rules guiding the right to decision making. The rights of the society. Rules about the constitution and the society. Laws about acquisition of property. Demand of the Two Documents The tradition springing from the French revolution is evident in the, ‘declaration of the rights of man.’ In this document, corruptions in government and public calamities have motivated the formation of rules. The rules are based on the assumption that people’s neglect, ignorance and disrespect of the privileges of man were the causes of public disorder. The rules preserving the rights of man were formulated to inform and remind people in order to reduce public calamities and corruption. They were meant to develop respect for the executive and legislative powers and to maintain the constitution to ensure happiness of all. Focus of such a declaration is totally different from the focus of the proclamation of Young Turks. Young Turks proclamation has covered various areas. It has focused on leadership matters, their reign and powers; the rights of the citizens to vote, constitution of political groups; official language of the nation; citizen liberty and equality rights. At the same time, it covers their duties relative to the state and rights to employment; issues concerning religion privileges and freedom of expression; organization and management of state forces. That is why it unveils property rights, acquisition of lands, government services such as offering free education, operations of schools under the state and establishment of education facilities Development issues such as management of agriculture, commerce and industry schools for development of resources are also included in the document. Similarities and Differences “The first rule of the Young Turks proclamation,” is concerned with leadership compared to, “the declaration of the rights of man.” It explains the purpose of the constitution with respect to the national will. The national will is used to advocate for good behavior among the ministers. An example is; a minister should resign without majority votes. This rule also shows some concern for national will related to the civil liberties of man. The right to exercise one’s views, opinions and communicate is covered in the declaration of the privileges of human race. Such privileges enable a citizen to communicate his or her observations liberally about leadership, leading to the existence of dominance of the national will that the Young Turks proclamation has covered. In Young Turks proclamation, it is indicated that the basis for the constitution will be high opinion for the dominance of the public will. This means that the constitution was formed to respect the will of people, just like, “the declaration of the rights of man,” is formed on the basis for respect for the rights of man. Young Turks proclamation is more politically aligned compared to the declaration of the rights of man. Examples of political alignment are principles such as 1, 2, 3 and 4. In one, it is all about the will of the people in selecting a political leader. In principle 2, it is all about who has the right to decide on the number of senators to govern. In principle 2, citizens are guided on who has the freedom to cast a vote; and the principle 4 is all about the constitution of political groups. This is contrary to most principles, rules or laws described in “The Declaration of the Rights of Man.” In this declaration rules and laws are focused on giving respect to the rights of man. This is then expected to manage the actions of the people in the society. An example is, in rule number two; political associations are formed to preserve the natural rights of man such as right to property, to liberty, to resist oppression and right to security. Both documents have high regards for the nations. In the declaration of the rights of man, it is indicated, “the principle of sovereignty lies in the nation”. In Young Turks proclamation, there is a national constitution that expresses the voice of the people through various ways. Both documents have been shown to defend the rights of the citizen. In Young Turks proclamation, rule number nine; it is indicated, “each citizen will enjoy complete liberty and equality.” In this case, nationality or religion should not be a determining factor. It also gives freedom to the exercise of religious privileges. In the “Declaration of the Rights of Man” almost all the principles or rules are focused on defending the rights of man. For example, rule number six describes the rights to participation in the law, and rule number seven describes the rights of man when dealing with accusations, arrests and imprisonment. Both documents show some focus on achieving order in the state, but there are different approaches used. In Young Turks proclamation, the approach taken is the formulation of laws to guide, prohibit or allow certain activities and actions. Examples include; rule number 14 where acquisition of land is based on the rights of the landholders. Rule number four states that there is freedom to constitute political groups that are inserted in a precise fashion in the charter. On the other hand, rule number three gives information about voting rights. Young Turks proclamation document includes rules on how the schools will be operated, the role of the state in such operations, how education systems will be managed and the role of the citizen in the establishment of private schools. It also covers issues on development of state resources. This is clear in rule number 18 where it is indicated that roads, canals and railways will be formed to improve communication facilities, and in turn improved the nation’s wealth. It is also indicated under the rule that all that can obstruct agriculture or commerce shall be destroyed. This is not clear in the declaration of the rights of man. The later has only given rules on rights of man. Conclusion The similarities could be as a result of the aims of the documents. They were both revolutionary, focused on equality and liberty for all. Young Turks proclamation was a revolutionary proclamation meant to restore the constitution. On the other hand, the declaration of the rights of man was a document formed as a sign of revolution at the beginning of the French revolution. It was an agreement of liberty adopted by the national assembly. The differences observed in the documents could be a consequence of the dissimilar aims of revolutions and the governance styles of the countries. In Ottoman, the aim of the Young Turks was to try and solve the democratic problems of the empire which they believed to have been as a result of autocratic leadership of Sultan, Abdul Hamid II. They advocated for restoration of the constitution. The Young Turks were motivated by the French revolution. The declaration of the rights of man is a document developed as a contract; as part of a revolutionary move by the French, to ensure equality and liberty for all. It was inspired by the American ‘Declaration of Independence’ of the country’s revolution. It was developed as part of France’s Constitution. Works Cited Declaration of the Rights of Man – 1789. The Young Turks: Proclamation for the Ottoman Empire, 1908. Read More