As Western powers contemplate armed intervention in Syria, their proficiency in translating raw military power into political effect is key. Can past experience in designing multinational campaigns still teach us anything about international security in an age of austerity? As the appetite for foreign adventure dwindles, have European states learned how to conduct interventions if, as was the case in Mali, there is no other option left? Most importantly, what are the implications of two decades of campaigning for European defence planning writ large?In his new book 'The Politico-Military Dynamics of European Crisis Response Operation', Alexander Mattelaer grapples with these and many more pertinent questions. To celebrate the publication of the book and to encourage further debate, the Institute for European Studies is pleased to cordially invite you to a policy forum with Alexander Mattelaer, Sven Biscop, Yves de Kermabon and Jamie Shea.