What kind of a power is the EU? What are the main factors that have provided the EU with the opportunities to construct its role in international politics? Which theoretical approaches are appropriate for the conceptualization of the EU foreign policy activity? Does the EU operate as a civilian power? And what is a civilian power? What are the key indicators for the ''Civilian Power Europe''? Beste Ä°sleyen''s study offers a comprehensive overview of the academic debate on the ''Civilian Power Europe'' and questions whether the concept is applicable to past and present involvement of the EU in the Middle East peace process.

Beste Ä°sleyen received her Bachelor¿s degree in English Language and Literature in Turkey and Italy, followed by a Master¿s degree in Intercultural Communication and European Studies programme in Germany. During her stay in Germany, Ä°sleyen completed a three-month internship at the Department of Transatlantic Relations at the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. Currently, Beste Ä°sleyen works as a research assistant at the Department of International Relations and European Union at Ä°zmir University of Economics.