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You might never have heard of war lawyers, but they can effectively be the people who decide who lives and who dies in modern-day conflicts. Not only do their actions have potentially catastrophic consequences for people living in war zones, but the role can also be hugely traumatic for the lawyers themselves.
Craig Jones has spent several years interviewing these lawyers at various locations in the Middle East, Europe and North America – from military bases, bustling cafes and even their own homes and gardens. They spoke candidly about how commanders had come to rely on their advice in lethal military operations but also about their unease at wielding this newfound power and the impact it has on their mental health.
The conflict in Israel and Palestine has seen a deadly escalation in recent days. While fault lines between the two sides run deep, the latest violence also underscores internal divisions, particularly the rivalry between Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas.
We also hear from Anna Di Ronco who describes how some governments are clamping down on the right to protest – especially about environmental issues. She looks at how environmental protesters in her home country of Italy have been treated by the police and the courts.
All our work is completely free to read – we have no paywall. But with that in mind, we need your support. If you like what we do, please donate to invest in quality coverage by supporting The Conversation.
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Holly Squire
Special Projects Editor
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Shutterstock
Craig Jones, Newcastle University
Military lawyers told me how they must make split-second decisions that weigh military variables against real human lives.
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EPA-EFE/Haitham Imad
Julie M Norman, UCL
Factional infighting within Palestinian politics has played a part in building tensions.
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Pacific Press Media Production Corp. / Alamy
Anna Di Ronco, University of Essex
A criminologist spoke to anti-gas pipeline activists.
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Science + Technology
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Robin Dunbar, University of Oxford
The claim that our brain size limits us to 150 meaningful friendships has been challenged by a recent paper.
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Predrag Slijepcevic, Brunel University London; Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe, University of Buckingham
A new study argues we should search for microbial life rather than human-like aliens.
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Benedict King, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Martin Rücklin, Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Philip C J Donoghue, University of Bristol
Scientists have long believed that sharks were the first vertebrates to evolve teeth. Our new study reveals a more complex history.
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Politics + Society
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Karl Pike, Queen Mary University of London
Key moments over the past year illustrate where things are going wrong for the Labour leader.
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Nitasha Kaul, University of Westminster
The humanitarian disaster in India has been made worse by a lack of accountability at the highest level in government.
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Deana Heath, University of Liverpool
Colonial police organisations used similar arguments to uphold their power as were heard in the trial of George Floyd's murderer.
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Fiona Lavelle, Queen's University Belfast
During lockdown, cooking and baking were routinely suggested as a fun way to keep children busy. It got them learning too
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Health + Medicine
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Jonathan R Goodman, University of Cambridge
People are likely to show compassion to those showing symptoms of illness or injury. Is that how our immune system evolved?
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Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, University of Oxford
The public and the media need to be careful not to jump to conclusions when assessing new research.
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Claire Field, University of Stirling
Even with low case numbers, you can argue COVID restrictions shouldn't end early. Here's why.
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Business + Economy
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Taha Yasseri, University College Dublin
New research into sex work in the UK highlights some of the changes and challenges sex workers have faced.
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Arts + Culture
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Serena Dyer, De Montfort University
The costumes in period dramas are opulent and highly memorable, shaping how we think of the royal family beyond the screen.
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Featured events
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Online, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB11PT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Anglia Ruskin University
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Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Cardiff [Caerdydd GB-CRD], CF10 3BA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Cardiff University
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Online - Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Cardiff [Caerdydd GB-CRD], CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Cardiff University
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Online, Birmingham, Warwickshire, B15 2TT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Birmingham
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