Geopolitical stakes and games on the North-West – South-East axis (Western World – Turkey)

Abstract

This study is an attempt to operationalise the concept of “geopolitical axis” by crystallising an analysis applied to the relations between the Western World and Turkey and making use of a new approach philosophy: from the geopolitics of the “spheres of influence” to the geopolitics of “axes”. The results of this research prove this semantic-conceptual translation and the redefining of geopolitical analysis: the old traditional alliances (I’m either with you or against you) have been replaced by strategic partnerships (membership in several territorial structures and centres of power and positioning on as many geopolitical axes as possible, respectively the shift from “either-or” to “and-and”). The case study emphasises the geopolitical stakes and games on the North-West – South-East Eurasian regional axis, pointing out Turkey’s alignment or seesaw in regards to the Western world.