Boundaries of Belonging: Sectarianism and Statecraft in the Ottoman Empire

A book launch and scholarly conversation on Ottoman history, politics, and religious identity — examining how the Ottoman state navigated sectarianism and statecraft across its empire.

Ayşe Baltacıoğlu-Brammer, the author, will discuss her new book, which draws on Ottoman, Persian, and European sources to explore how the Ottoman state, as the self-proclaimed guardian of Sunni Islam, managed its relationship with Shiʿi Safavid rivals and non-Sunni Muslim communities within its own borders. The book argues that while sectarianism shaped ideological language, lived political and social realities were shaped equally by concerns about loyalty, security, and administration.

Baltacıoğlu-Brammer will be joined by three commentators: Alan Mikhail (Chace Family Professor of History at Yale University), Rudi Matthee (John and Dorothy Munroe Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Delaware), and Subah Dayal (Assistant Professor of History at NYU). Expect a rigorous, accessible conversation on empire, identity, and governance.

The event is hosted by NYU's Department of History at 20 Cooper Square in the East Village. It's free and open to the public — no registration required, though arriving early is wise for a popular academic event.