Dr.
Linda Ruppert
(She, Her)
Post-doc Researcher
As a critical military geographer, I specialize in researching how weapons technologies are legitimized and justified in societal and political spheres. Drawing on theoretical perspectives from political geography, critical military geographies, and (feminist) Science and Technology Studies, I examine how the interplay of discursive, material, and affective dimensions serves to justify (new) technologies of killing. For my research on weapons technologies, I developed a methodological approach that combines multisensory research at weapons fairs with a discourse-theoretical analysis of security-related documents.
I am affiliated with the Geography Department at Heidelberg University, where I hold a postdoctoral position. After studying Geography (with a minor in Political Science) at Heidelberg University, I received a doctoral scholarship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and completed my PhD at the University of Freiburg. My research focused on critical military geographies of weapons technologies, using German geopolitical and security policy as a case study. Since 2018, I have been part of the Center for Emancipatory Technology Research (ZET), which aims to ensure that decisions about technology design and use are subject to democratic deliberation.
Contact
Platforms & Social Media
Consultation
by agreement
please contact me via E-Mail to book an appointment
Research Foci
At a Glance
Regional
Germany, Europe
Thematic
critical military geographies
critical military studies
weapons technologies
Concepts & Theories
feminist technosciences
critical geopolitics
new materialism
discourse theory
science and technology studies
Methods
mixed methods research
qualitative research
discourse theory
multisensory ethnography
Academic Career
Positions:
Since 01/2025 → Pos-Doc (Research Associate), University of Heidelberg
01/2017 – 08/2024 → Research Associate and lecturer, University of Freiburg
2020 → University Lecturer, University of Münster
2016 – 2018 → University Lecturer, University of Heidelberg
Memberships, research groups and other academic responsibilities:
2019 – Ongoing → Center for Emancipatory Technology Studies (Zentrum Emanzipatorische Technikforschung ZET): An association of researchers advocating for a socially and ecologically responsible use of technology. The CET is driven by the idea of bringing new perspectives to debates on technology and digitalization, aiming to reveal the political implications of decisions regarding the design and use of technology. Through their research, we seek to ensure that decisions about technology design and use become subject to democratic deliberation. We aim to leverage our expertise to promote technological progress that does not deepen societal divides but rather enables material participation and a self-determined life for all.
03/2024 → Main organizer, International Conference on “Critical Approaches to Militarization and Space”, Leipzig
2024 – ongoing → Member Cost-Action “CO-PROducing social, economic and digital inclusion in times of polarisation (“The CO-PRO Network”)”
2018 – ongoing → Working Group Feminist Geographies (AK Feministische Geographien) (Member)
2017- ongoing → Working Group Political Geography (AK Politische Geographie) (Member)
Degrees:
2025 → Ph.D. (Dr. phil.), University of Freiburg
Title of thesis: “Critical Military Geographies of Weapons Technologies. The Case of German Geo- and Security Policy”
2016 → M.Sc. Geography, University of Heidelberg
Title of thesis (in German): “Identität – Legitimation – Grenzziehung: Eine poststrukturalistische Untersuchung des Diskurses über geflüchtete Menschen”
Scholarships:
2022 → Completion Scholarship, State Graduate Funding Freiburg (Landesgraduiertenförderung) (12/2021 – 04/2022)
2019 → Doctoral Scholarship, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (01/2019 – 06/2022)
2017 → Short-Term Scholarship, State Graduate Funding Freiburg (Landesgraduiertenförderung) (03-07/2017)
Peer-reviewed publications:
Ruppert, L. (2026): Imagining the enhanced soldier: Science fiction and the future of the human body in war. Critical Studies on Security, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/21624887.2026.2668215
Ruppert, L. & Bork-Hüffer, T. (2025): Embodied Digital Warfare: Authoritarian Appropriation through Human Enhancement. In: Dialogues on Digital Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/29768640251369965
Ruppert, L. & Mattissek, A. (under review): Armaments projects in times of geopolitical tension – German renegotiations of the FCAS in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian War. Critical Military Studies.
Ruppert, L.: Eine Kritische Militärgeographie von Waffentechnologien am Beispiel deutscher Geo- und Sicherheitspoltiik.
Ruppert, L (2023): Geopolitics of Technological Futures: Warfare Technologies and Future Battlefields in German Security Debates. Geopolitics: 1-26: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2023.2174431
Militz, E., , Ruppert, L., & Schurr, C. (2022): Solidarity, the national flag, and embodied differences. Viewpoint. Political Geography: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2022.102738
Ruppert, L. (2022): Affective Atmospheres of Weapons Technologies: The Case of Battle Drones, Combat Fighters and Bodies in Contemporary German Geopolitics. Emotion, Space & Society; 45: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2022.100909
Book chapters and other publications
Ruppert, L. (2026): Critical military geographies of weapons technologies and the hidden politics of militarisation. In A Research Agenda for Critical Security Studies (pp. 109–123). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/book/9781035311156/chapter7.xml
Ruppert, L. (2024): Interview: “Geopolitische Leitmotive und Waffentechnologie”. Magazin der Informationsstelle Militarisierung e.V. AUSDRUCK; 118: 16-19 (download: https://www.imi-online.de/download/September2024_web.pdf)
Bachmann, V., Mattissek, A., Ruppert, L., Stenmanns, J., Vorbrugg, A. (2020): Kritische Militärgeographie – Anliegen und Abgrenzungen. Rundbrief Geographie; 282: 28-30
Ruppert, L. (2018): Über die “Entkörperung des soldatischen Mannes” im Gefüge von Diskurs und Materialität. Feministische Geo-Rundmail; 75: 13-16
Talks, presentations & speeches:
Ruppert L.: Imagination of Autonomy: Geopolitics of Technological Futures. 2024 (Meaningful Human Control (MEHUCO) Konferenz, Paderborn)
Ruppert L. (Zusammen mit Hörschelmann K und, Bruns B): Critical Approaches to Militarisation and Space (Workshopleitung). 2024 (Leipzig)
Ruppert L.: Geopolitics of Technological Futures. Warfare Technologies and Future Battlefields in German Security Debates (Virtual Session). 2022 (American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, New York)
Ruppert L.: Workshop: Diskurstheoretische Ansätze zur Analyse von Social Media-Diskursen. 2022 (Universität Bonn)
Ruppert L.: Über Affekte und Waffentechnologien innerhalb deutschlandbezogener geopolitischer Aushandlungen 2021 (Digitale Geowoche)
Ruppert L.: Affektive Atmosphären von Waffentechnologien. Kampfdrohnen, Kampfflugzeuge und Körper innerhalb deutschlandbezogener geopolitischer Aushandlungen. 2021 (Bonner Geographische Gesellschaft)
Ruppert, L. & Creutziger, C.: Militär, Materialität und Emotionen in der Geopolitik 2019 (Neue Kulturgeographie XVI, Eichstätt)
Ruppert, L. & Creutziger, C.: Emotionale Annäherung an tonnenschwere Waffentechnik. 2019 (Deutscher Kongress für Geographie (DKG), Kiel)
Ruppert, L. & Mattissek, A.: Current transformations of Germany’s international military role. An analysis of heterogeneous assemblages between discourse and materiality 2019 (American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., USA)
Ruppert, L. & Mattissek A: Discourses and materialities in current transformations of Germany’s geopolitical role 2019 (Political Geography Specialty Group (PGSG) Pre-conference, George Washington University, Washington D.C., USA)
Ruppert, L. & Mattissek, A.: Transformationen der militärisch-geopolitischen Positionierung Deutschlands zwischen Diskurs und Materialität 2019 (Tagung des AK Politische Geographie: Zurück zur Geopolitik? Leitbilder, Risikoszenarien, Diskurse und Emotionen in der Politischen Geographie, Universität Münster)
Ruppert, L. & Mattissek, A.: Die militärisch-geopolitische Rolle Deutschlands zwischen Diskurs und Materialität. 2019 (Deutscher Kongress für Geographie (DKG) Kiel)
Media & Outreach:
Informationsstelle Militarisierung e.V. – Interview: “Geopolitische Leitmotive und Waffentechnologie”. https://www.imi-online.de/download/September2024_web.pdf)
Riot Radio – Feministische Geographie (Oktober 2020)
About Me
As a critical military geographer, I specialize in researching how weapons technologies are legitimized and justified in societal and political spheres. Drawing on theoretical perspectives from political geography, critical military geographies, and (feminist) Science and Technology Studies, I examine how the interplay of discursive, material, and affective dimensions serves to justify (new) technologies of killing. For my research on weapons technologies, I developed a methodological approach that combines multisensory research at weapons fairs with a discourse-theoretical analysis of security-related documents.
I am affiliated with the Geography Department at Heidelberg University, where I hold a postdoctoral position. After studying Geography (with a minor in Political Science) at Heidelberg University, I received a doctoral scholarship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and completed my PhD at the University of Freiburg. My research focused on critical military geographies of weapons technologies, using German geopolitical and security policy as a case study. Since 2018, I have been part of the Center for Emancipatory Technology Research (ZET), which aims to ensure that decisions about technology design and use are subject to democratic deliberation.
© 2019-2026
Research Group Transient Spaces & Societies
Dartment of Geography Heidelberg University Berliner Str. 48, 69120 Heidelberg
Department of Geography University of Innsbruck
Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck
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