Renate Martinsen

Prof. Dr. Renate Martinsen, Chair of Political Theory at the University of Duisburg-Essen since 2006, is a leading German political scientist with expertise in contemporary political theory, constructivism, and bio(medical)politics. She studied at the University of Konstanz, earning a doctorate (Dr. phil.) with summa cum laude in 1990 and completing her habilitation at the University of Leipzig in 2003. Her academic roles include visiting professorships at George Washington University (1997) and temporary positions at the Universities of Konstanz (2003/2004) and Leipzig (2004-2006).

Martinsen’s research focuses on the interplay between democracy, power theory, and technological advancement, particularly in biomedicine. She has led major projects like the BMBF-funded Multiple Risks (2016-2019), analyzing stem cell research governance, and directed the Austrian team in the EU’s European Biotechnology Innovation Systems (EBIS) project (1999-2002). Her editorial work includes founding the Politologische Aufklärung – konstruktivistische Perspektiven publication series at Springer VS (2013) and co-editing volumes on Foucault, constructivism, and technological ethics.

She has contributed to policy debates through studies for the German Bundestag’s Technology Assessment Office (2003, 2008) and remains active in professional networks, including the German Political Science Association (DVPW) and its Constructivist Theories of Politics working group (2011-2020). Her work bridges interdisciplinary research with political theory, emphasizing the cultural construction of politics and the democratization of expertise.