Dr. David Curran’s primary research interest is in developments in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping. Since completing his PhD at the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, David has undertaken research into a range of topic areas including the role of conflict resolution in training programmes for military peacekeepers; Protection of Civilians in UN Peacekeeping; the evolution of rapid-reaction peacekeeping and peacebuilding forces such as the African Union standby brigades, EU battlegroups; and the potential of specialized UN rapid reaction capabilities.

My research seeks to understand the extent to which international peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions form an effective tool of conflict resolution. This provides a lens to analyse a range of areas, from the training that peacekeeping personnel receive, to the wider principles that underpin peacekeeping operations, and the motivations of those who intervene. I am committed to understand forms of third party intervention in violent conflict, and provide strong academic research which contributes to scholarly debates whilst engaging with practitioner communities.