Caroline Holmqvist

Papers

Total Citations

132

H-Index

About

Caroline Holmqvist is a leading scholar in critical war studies and international political sociology, whose work interrogates the material and ontological dimensions of contemporary conflict. Her most-cited paper, "Undoing War: War Ontologies and the Materiality of Drone Warfare" (2013, 132 citations), challenges conventional understandings of military robotics by moving beyond the intuitive claim that drones simply represent a technological extension of warfare. Instead, Holmqvist explores how unmanned systems reconfigure the very ontology of war—transforming its spatial, temporal, and ethical boundaries. Her research fundamentally rethinks the relationship between technology, violence, and political order, drawing on poststructuralist and feminist theory to expose how drone warfare "undoes" traditional categories of combatant, civilian, and battlefield. With over 130 citations on this single paper alone, her work has shaped debates in security studies, political geography, and critical military studies. Holmqvist’s contributions are notable for bridging abstract theory with pressing empirical realities, offering a nuanced critique that resonates with scholars and policymakers alike. Her scholarship remains essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the profound implications of robotic warfare for global politics.