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David Turns

David Turns

Senior Lecturer in International Law, Cranfield University
Dr Turns graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science with an Upper Second Class LLB (Honours) degree in 1990 and an LLM in 1992, and has been a non-practising barrister and Member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple since 1992. From 1990 to 1994 he taught Public International Law as a Part-time Lecturer at the London School of Economics, and was a full Lecturer in Law at the University of Liverpool from 1994 to 2007.

He has specialised in the education and training of military legal advisers since 1995 and has also delivered courses on international law for humanitarian aid workers, military officers (non-legal, including senior commanders) and civil servants, in the UK and many other countries around the world.

Dr Turns was a Visiting Professor at the Institute of International Law and International Relations, University of Vienna, in 2002, and is a Member of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (San Remo, Italy), the Board of Directors of the International Society for Military Law & the Law of War, and the Advisory Board of the Hungarian Yearbook of International Law & European Law.

Research opportunities
International Humanitarian Law (the Law of Armed Conflict) (jus in bello)
Legality of the Use of Force by States (jus ad bellum)
International Criminal Law

Current activities
Dr Turns' current scholarly interests are:

the historical and contemporary evolution of warfare and its effect on the development and interpretation of the laws of war;
Rules of Engagement as a tool for the governance of armed and security forces;
the doctrine of armed reprisals;
the status and treatment of prisoners of war.

Global Geopolitics Series

Ukraine war: what international law says about the Russians fighting against their own country

Jun 16, 2023 06:02 am UTC| Politics

In the weeks before Ukraines counteroffensive and as Ukraines military activity in Russian-occupied areas of its country increased in intensity there have been reports of attacks on the other side of the border directed...

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Economy

Interest rates: the ugly dilemma facing Europe’s central banks – and why it’s a mistake to cut too soon

Central banks in Europe are discovering an old dilemma: when they lower interest rates because inflation is slowing down, its likely to weaken their currencies. This in turn may delay the fall in inflation towards their...

Europe is still in short-term crisis mode over Ukraine and lacks a vision for its post-war identity

Some believe that the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe, giving birth to a different kind of European order. That is, it appears to be driving structural shifts in the way Europe is run and organised that...

Mortgage prisoners: regulatory changes and low credit scores have left thousands trapped in a cycle of high payments

There are 8.5 million households in the UK who own a home with a residential mortgage, often with fixed interest rates from two to five years. Usually, when that mortgage deal ends, the borrower will move to another deal...

What should you do if you can’t pay your rent or mortgage?

The cost of living crisis is making it difficult for many people to pay their bills, including housing costs. Private sector rents have increased by an average 9% over the year to February 2024, and rising interest rates...

Reducing energy demand and improving efficiency will help prevent the next gas crisis

Gas prices have relaxed, Europe has come out of the winter with record gas storage levels and a surfeit of liquefied natural gas is set to reach the shores of Europe over the coming years. Many commentators are hopeful...

Politics

Gabon: post-coup dialogue has mapped out path to democracy – now military leaders must act

At the end of April 2024, a long and peaceful process of national dialogue in Gabon between the military junta, presided over by coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema, and civil society, represented by 580 civilians,...

How German media attention idealises female Ukrainian refugees

According to the latest available data, around 3.7 million Ukrainians are internally displaced, while nearly 6.5 million have registered as refugees globally. With 1.13 million, Germany has taken in the largest...

Over 26 million South Africans get a social grant. Fear of losing the payment used to be a reason to vote for the ANC, but no longer – study

Social grants to reduce poverty feature prominently in the campaign promises of political parties in South Africas 2024 national and provincial general elections, set for 29 May. The countrys social grants system is one...

Donald Trump Allegedly Offers Oil Execs a Deal to Scrap EV Incentives for $1B Donation

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US Supreme Court upended decades of precedent in 2022 by allowing voters to vote with gerrymandered maps instead of fixing the congressional districts first

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Science

Is dark matter’s main rival theory dead? There’s bad news from the Cassini spacecraft and other recent tests

One of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics today is that the forces in galaxies do not seem to add up. Galaxies rotate much faster than predicted by applying Newtons law of gravity to their visible matter, despite those...

Why are algorithms called algorithms? A brief history of the Persian polymath you’ve likely never heard of

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IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects

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The Mars Sample Return mission has a shaky future, and NASA is calling on private companies for backup

A critical NASA mission in the search for life beyond Earth, Mars Sample Return, is in trouble. Its budget has ballooned from US$5 billion to over $11 billion, and the sample return date may slip from the end of this...

Dark matter: our new experiment aims to turn the ghostly substance into actual light

A ghost is haunting our universe. This has been known in astronomy and cosmology for decades. Observations suggest that about 85% of all the matter in the universe is mysterious and invisible. These two qualities are...

Technology

Tron Founder Justin Sun's $2.5 Billion Ethereum Stash Sparks Investor Interest

Tron founder Justin Suns $2.5 billion Ethereum investment is stirring significant market interest, highlighting his confidence in the cryptocurrencys future. Justin Suns Ethereum Holdings Explained Tron founder...

Ethereum Price Target Reaches $4,000; Altcoins Gain 20% Amid Market Rally

Ethereums price target has climbed to $4,000, reflecting market momentum. Meanwhile, altcoins have gained 20%, contributing to the market rally. SEC Decision Could Propel Ethereum Price Beyond $4,000 On Monday, the...

Shibarium BONE Token Set for Potential Binance Listing, Price Up by 5%

Binances recent request for project proposals has ignited the Shiba Inu community, fueling a 5% surge in BONE token price amid speculation of a potential listing. Binances New Strategy Supports Small-to-Medium...

Wendy’s Launches $3 Breakfast Deal as McDonald’s Tests Limited $5 Value Meal in June

Wendys will offer a $3 breakfast deal starting May 20, while McDonalds plans a $5 value meal for June, reflecting a strategic push to attract budget-conscious consumers amid high inflation. Wendys $3 Breakfast Deal...
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