L’Italia e l’Africa dopo il 1989: smarrimento e rilancio di una relazione

This article analyzes the evolution of relations between Italy and the African continent since 1989, a historical turning point marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. In this context, Africa ceased to be a terrain of bipolar competition, suffering a progressive marginalization by the West that also profoundly affected Italian foreign policy. The investigation highlights how the following decade was characterized, on the one hand, by profound political confusion and Italy's disengagement, evidenced by the collapse of investment in development cooperation and a public perception of Africa as a "continent adrift," amplified by an often superficial media narrative focused on endemic crises. On the other hand, the article highlights counter-trend elements that have opened positive avenues, such as support for the democratic transition in South Africa and the crucial role played by Italian informal diplomacy—particularly the Community of Sant'Egidio—in peace mediation in Mozambique. Finally, the work analyzes the emergence of the "migration issue" in Italy, which has evolved from a hidden social phenomenon into a complex and often exploited political issue. Through the analysis of key figures and civil society movements, the author offers a reflection on the need to move beyond the logic of emergency and develop a long-term vision capable of reconnecting Italy with the dynamics of a rapidly changing continent.