Mustafa Aksakal

About the Author

Mustafa Aksakal is a distinguished historian specializing in the Ottoman Empire and the origins of the First World War. A professor of history at Georgetown University, he has dedicated his career to unraveling the complex diplomatic and military dynamics that propelled the Ottoman Empire into global conflict. Drawing on extensive archival research from Turkish, British, German, and Russian sources, Aksakal's scholarship illuminates the strategic decisions and internal pressures that shaped Ottoman foreign policy in the early 20th century. His work challenges traditional narratives by highlighting the agency's of Ottoman leaders amid the collapse of empires. Beyond academia, Aksakal contributes to public understanding through lectures and articles, bridging historical analysis with contemporary geopolitical insights. With a PhD from Princeton University, he continues to influence the field through his rigorous, nuanced approach to Middle Eastern history.