A major focus is the convening of the final Chamber of Deputies (Meclis-i Mebusan), which famously adopted the Misak-ı Milli (National Pact). Akşin analyzes how this act of defiance led directly to the formal Allied occupation of Istanbul on March 16, 1920.
Sina Akşin's work, , is a foundational academic study that examines the political tension between the Ottoman government in occupied Istanbul and the emerging nationalist movement in Anatolia.
The text utilizes extensive archives from the UK, France, and the USA to show how foreign powers manipulated the Istanbul governments to suppress the Milli Mücadele (National Struggle). Significance of the Work
This second volume focuses on the brief and tumultuous period of the "Last Constitutional Era," following the resignation of the first Damat Ferit Pasha government in October 1919 until his return to power in 1920. Key Themes and Historical Context
Akşin illustrates the "civil war" atmosphere of the time, highlighting how the Istanbul administration was often paralyzed between its duty to the Sultan and the reality of the nationalist resistance in Anatolia.
The book details the attempts by the Istanbul governments (specifically the Ali Rıza Pasha and Salih Pasha cabinets) to bridge the gap between the Allied demands and the increasingly defiant Representative Committee led by Mustafa Kemal.