Eastern Question

The Eastern Question refers to the political and economic instability in the Ottoman Empire from the late 18th to early 20th centuries, and the subsequent strategic competition and political considerations of the European great powers. Characterized as the 'sick man of Europe', the relative weakening of the empire's military strength in the second half of the nineteenth century threatened to undermine the fragile balance of power system largely shaped by the Concert of Europe. The Eastern Question encompassed myriad interrelated elements: Ottoman military defeats, Ottoman institutional insolvency, the ongoing Ottoman political and economic modernization programme, the rise of ethno-religious nationalism in its provinces, and Great Power rivalries. Historian Leslie Rogne Schumacher has proposed a definition of the Eastern Question, which highlights the complex nature of the issue. The Eastern Question had significant implications for European politics, with various powers vying for influence and control in the region. The question was ultimately resolved with the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, but its legacy continues to shape international relations in the region.