Abstract. The article covers the basic premise of Turkey's significance as a regional and international political actor from the beginning of ХХIst century. Turkey achieved notable success in economic development, but in the frame of the chosen growth model it didn't manage to solve to problem of the economy peg to external finacing sources. Nevertheless, definite economic achievements gave the ruling Party of Justice and Development confidence in attempting to pursue a more active and independent foreign policy. But during this process, the intrinsic limits of the Turkish elite's freedom of action are visible enough. The Islamist ruling Party uses its economic and political strides to revise the domestic political establishment system of the Turkish Republic. It serves not only and not so much the interests of  the country's democratization, as ensures the gradual empowerement of religious-conservative part of the electorate – the main pillar of the Party for Justice and Development – in Turkish Republic, once founded as a secular state.