The decay paradigm is part of the historiography of empires. Many scholars have also interpreted the demise of the Ottoman Empire in terms of decay. In contrast, the aim of this commentary is to offer a reconstruction of the demise of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of the Turkish republic in terms of structural change and economic development. Thus, I argue that the Ottoman case would be better understood if viewed within the context of a more dynamic process of change versus inertia, rather than one of decay.