The EU's role and soft power approach in the Middle East conflict

Abstract

This dissertation analyses the EU's soft power approach and its role in the Middle East conflict. Chapter 1 reviews academic literature in which the concept of soft power is defined. The first chapter also criticises and provides counter arguments for this theory, as well as applies these concepts to the conduct of the European Union (EU). Chapter 2 provides an overview of major events in the Middle East, namely the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the EU' s involvement and actions to the ongoing conflict. Chapter 3 analyses the EU 's behaviour m regards to these major events and discusses whether the efforts made by the EU were effective Therefore, this dissertation deals with whether the EU's actions and policies are effective and whether the EU is a credible and effective participant in the Middle East peace process.