Between Central Control and Constitutional Rights: The 1908 Elections and Provincial Politics in Erzurum

This article examines the transition to a constitutional regime in the Ottoman periphery by focusing on the 1908 elections and their aftermath in the province of Erzurum. As a frontier province with a diverse demographic structure comprising various nomadic and semi-nomadic groups, Erzurum offers a compelling case for scrutinizing how the promises of the 1908 Constitutional Revolution, namely liberty, equality, and fraternity, unfolded in a local context. This study first analyzes debates over the demographic distribution of deputies and electoral irregularities, as well as their reflection in the press. By investigating specific cases from Erzurum, the article demonstrates the tension between the central authority prioritizing state security and public order, and constitutional rights such as freedom of expression, representation, and the inviolability of privacy. Based on an analysis of Ottoman archival documents and the Minutes of the Ottoman Chamber of Deputies, the article argues that both electoral processes and constitutional rights emerged as contested fields among central authorities, deputies, governors, and the local population.