CUP (Committee of Union and Progress)

The Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) was a political group in the early 20th century in the Ottoman Empire. Formed by a coalition of reform-minded individuals, it aimed to modernize and centralize the empire, promoting ideas of nationalism and secularism. The CUP played a significant role in the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, which restored constitutional governance. However, its later years were marked by controversial policies, including the Armenian Genocide during World War I. The CUP's influence waned after the empire collapsed, but its legacy still impacts contemporary discussions about nationalism and ethnic relations in the region.