Neither Ottoman State before 1923 nor Turkey (after inonuists a.k.a. Kemalists took over ) after 1944 were ideal. Both were corrupt. There was once a chance to transform Turkish State to an independent power, that was lost due to inonu's treacherous policies.
Amendment: actually Ottoman State between 1909 and 1918 was better ruled and organized, ittihat ve terakki party could have risen Ottoman Turkey far higher, if WW1 would not have happened.
Actually, Turkey between 1923-1938 was the highest level we have been able to reach after 1699...
In 1938, Turkey was one of the largest economies in this earth, Turkey was the fastest growing economy, Turkey could build herown civil and military planes, Turkey could build her own military and civil ships, Turkey was building largest railway route project of its time, Turkey was bulding her own rifles, cannons, and military equipments, Turkey could be able to do one of the biggest education projects of this earth...
Blaming Kemalism for power hungry politicians use of it to silence and control of nation is like blaming Islam for power hungry bigots use of it to silence and control people...
Edit: For Ottoman boot lickers... Ottmans were the topdog of Europe more than 200 years, They were a superpower around 350 years... But that doesn't change the fact that most of the Sultans was power hungry s'ssies who would rather live comfortably rather than try to advence the state and her people.
There were numerous Sultan who tried to make something out of the state but they were either killed or blocked by unprogressives... Selim III was one of the few sultans who cared about the state more than than their own comfort and even than his own life... and like other progressive sultans hewas klled... But generally, they were both cowards and inept.
