Changing patterns of inclusion into old age protection in the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey (1865-2020)

Who is protected by social security? This article explores this question by tracing the chronological sequence of inclusion into old age protection in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey. The focus lies on how legislation defines the groups that are covered by old age pensions. We argue that the old age p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Middle Eastern studies 2025-01, Vol.61 (1), p.37-51
Main Author: Öktem, Kerem Gabriel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
19th century
20th century
Age
Aging
Employment
inclusion
Legislation
Mirroring
old age protection
Older people
Ottoman Empire
Pension funds
Pensions
social policy
Social protection
Social security
State employees
Turkey
welfare state
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Summary:Who is protected by social security? This article explores this question by tracing the chronological sequence of inclusion into old age protection in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey. The focus lies on how legislation defines the groups that are covered by old age pensions. We argue that the old age protection system transformed from being aimed at protecting people working for the state, towards covering diverse societal groups and aspiring to universal social protection. The Ottoman Empire institutionalised its centuries-old system of protection of elderly state employees surprisingly early, through pension funds in the late nineteenth century. The Republic of Turkey maintained this approach for several decades, pointing to continuities between the late Ottoman Empire and the early Republic. From the mid-twentieth century onwards, the state transformed old age protection with new schemes for mostly employment-based groups. The analysis reveals intriguing parallels between political inclusion and inclusion in old age protection, with key expansions in the scope of old age protection mirroring shifts in the political regime.
ISSN:0026-3206
1743-7881
DOI:10.1080/00263206.2024.2389878