Muslim Political Ethics
and Covenantal Pluralism
Reimagining Equality in the Late Ottoman Experience
Centering the late Ottoman experience, this project explores how Islamic ethical and legal traditions informed debates on equality, communal autonomy, and coexistence in a religiously diverse society. It examines constitutional reforms and political thought through concepts such as justice, consultation, and order, reconsidering accounts that interpret these transformations primarily as steps toward secularization. Through the framework of covenantal pluralism, the research asks what this historical experience can contribute to contemporary discussions of political ethics and life in multi-faith societies.
Supported by the Templeton Religion Trust, the project completed its first phase between February 2025 and June 2026, focusing on Istanbul and the Balkans. This phase combined the examination of Ottoman Turkish and Arabic primary sources with a review of Turkish scholarship, while establishing academic connections in Türkiye, Kosovo, and Albania.
The research informed a presentation at the BRAIS Symposium 2026 and an academic article now being finalized for journal submission. An initial concept and editorial framework were also developed for a collaborative volume. Building on this foundation, the next phase is envisaged as a broader comparative investigation of how shared political and ethical principles were interpreted across different regional contexts.