New Article by Hüseyin Dikme and İpek Işılay: Public Relations in the Ottoman Empire: The Reign of Mahmud II and Communication Policies

The new article by our department chair and vice chair brings a modern theoretical perspective to the history of communication in the Ottoman Empire. In their study, Prof. Dr. Dikme and Asst. Prof. Dr. İpek Işılay offer an original contribution to the literature by combining contemporary public relations theories with the reign of Mahmud II, one of the most dynamic transformation periods of the Ottoman Empire.

In the traditional Ottoman administrative structure, communication practices between rulers and subjects have always represented a critical threshold for understanding the socio-political climate of the era. In their article, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dikme and Asst. Prof. Dr. İpek Işılay examine the roots of these practices by focusing on the reign of Mahmud II. The study investigates multilayered communication tools such as mosques, foundations, imperial edicts, ceremonies, and travels. During this period, when political reforms accelerated, the study reveals that the relationship established between the state and its subjects was not merely an administrative necessity, but also a carefully planned communication strategy.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the article is its integration of this historical transformation with modern communication paradigms. Prof. Dr. Dikme and Asst. Prof. Dr. Işılay reinterpret the practices of the Mahmud II period through the lens of James E. Grunig and Todd Hunt’s “Four Models of Public Relations” (Press Agentry/Publicity, Public Information, Two-Way Asymmetrical, and Two-Way Symmetrical Models), which constitute the foundations of the public relations discipline. In this way, the study analytically evaluates the extent to which early institutional communication efforts emerging within a monarchical structure correspond to today’s asymmetrical or public information models. The research demonstrates that the modernization process in the Ottoman Empire progressed in parallel with a process of “public consent production” and image management.

This research, which contributes significantly to the academic world, serves as a distinctive source for both communication historians and modern public relations professionals. We congratulate our Department Chair Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dikme and our Vice Chair Asst. Prof. Dr. İpek Işılay for this visionary and meticulous study, and we wish them continued success in their academic endeavors.