La “nuova frontiera” di Davutoğlu. Come (e perché) è cambiata la politica estera della Turchia

In the last decade, the AKP-led governments have enlarged Turkish sphere of influence and have make Turkey a pivotal International actor. This is mostly based on the line traced by the current Foreign Minister Davutoğlu in his geopolitical theory known as Strategic Depth. This paper analyzes the new course of Turkey's foreign policy. More specifically, it focuses on two elements of Davutoğlu’s theory; namely the concept of new "geographical imagination" and the controversial, but abused notion of neo-Ottomanism. The practical results of new Turkey’s foreign policy in Africa, a region for a long time ignored, are detailed. The Turkish civil society has played a relevant role in different arenas (economic, education, humanitarian). The complementary action of private and public actors, the absence of a colonial history and the political rhetoric ability of its leaders increase Turkish influence in the region and make it a key player for future macro-regional balances.