Why did the weakening of the Ottoman empire pose a diplomatic challenge for Europe?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary. Several aspects of the decline of the Ottoman empire were problematic for Europe, but primarily the concern was over spheres of influence and maintaining a balance of power that did not allow one European nation to gain control in the region. Culturally, there were several movements that caused concern as well: Arab Nationalism sought to create a new Arab state that was based on linguistic commonality rather than Muslim identification which they shared with the Ottomans. Jadadism sought to reconcile Islam to the modern world, which was rejected within the tradition-bound Ottoman Empire. Zionism was concerning to some of the partners in European diplomacy, again over the issue of spheres of influence and whether one state might gain an advantage with the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, as supported by Britain. Finally, the concern of Pan-Slavicism was raised in the fears that Russia might exert influence on the South Slavic linguistic and cultural groups within the Ottoman empire, which would potentially threaten Western European claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly after construction of the Suez Canal by France and England, which opposed Russia in the Crimean War. When Bismarck called the Berlin Conference to discuss more than just the issues of imperialism, the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire was also of key importance.