Baghdad Railway Capital Accumulation and Logistic Needs in the Late Ottoman Period

This study analyzes the Baghdad Railway project, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, from the perspective of capital accumulation and logistics needs. The research examines how the railway project functioned in the capital accumulation process of late capitalism and how it responded to the changing logistics needs of the period. The analysis, based on Harvey's concept of "spatial fixation" and Arrighi's theoretical framework on capital accumulation cycles, reveals the multi-layered and contradictory nature of the project. The study shows that the Baghdad Railway served three main purposes: creating a safe investment area for German capital, creating markets for industrial products, and providing access to strategic raw materials. From the perspective of the Ottoman Empire, the project was seen as a part of modernization efforts, a tool for strengthening territorial integrity, and an economic development drive. The transfer of risk to the Ottoman treasury through the kilometer guarantee system reflects the contradictory nature of the railway financing model. The research also reveals that the effects of the railway on transforming trade networks, marketing agricultural production, access to raw material resources, and military-strategic capacity were not homogeneous, with some regions and social groups benefiting while others were marginalized. The study highlights that the Baghdad Railway experience offers important lessons on financing models, technology transfer and social impact assessment for today's infrastructure projects.