Hans A. Pestalozzi

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Hans Adolf Pestalozzi (born February 7, 1929 in Zurich ; † July 14, 2004 in Wattwil ) was a Swiss manager , social critic and author .

Life

His father was a teacher and pastor, his mother an early women's rights activist, both of whom were committed to marginalized groups. Hans A. Pestalozzi studied economics at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and then worked as an assistant at the foreign economic institute.

Migros and GDI

In 1955, he came as a personal secretary of Gottlieb Duttweiler for retail Corporation Migros . After the founder's death, Pestalozzi became vice director of the group in 1962. From 1966 to 1979 he headed the renowned Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI) in Rüschlikon , Zurich , which he developed into an internationally known think tank for executives. Business bosses, scientists, philosophers and politicians as guests from all over the world were invited to track down weaknesses in the growth and consumer society . Across cultures, they developed theses and ideas at the GDI on how to make the world a better place to live. At the moment when he came across anarchism in his search for alternatives , and postulated his critical ideas more and more radically - culminating in his much-acclaimed book Nach uns die Zukunft  - he was dismissed without notice in 1979.

critic

In his second career, the ex-Migros manager became a Migros management critic and - as he himself postulated - an "autonomous agitator". From 1980 he led the democratization movement M-Spring against Migros. His involvement was also known through the documentary Pestalozzi by Roman Brodmann . In 1982 he pleaded for the abolition of the Swiss Army - which he himself had served as a major - with his book Save Switzerland ; in the same year he co-founded the group for a Switzerland without an army (GSoA) . He was friends with Frederic Vester , whose exhibition Our World - a networked system he promoted, and with the bio-architect Rudolf Doernach ; the three often performed together.

Pestalozzi subsequently gave numerous lectures to teachers and political organizations and was a much sought-after speaker and discussant on television programs. He showed solidarity with the growing youth movement , with other pacifist, ecological and developmental pioneers and pointed out the weak points and contradictions of our consumer-oriented growth society .

In 1984 he retired to a farm in Steintal near Wattwil in Toggenburg , where he practiced self -sufficiency . He also hiked numerous European long-distance hiking trails.

Pestalozzi committed suicide at the age of 75.

Works

  • The history of Migrol . Until Erdölwerke Frisia AG was founded. 1% forces 99%. Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund, Pressedienst, Zurich 1957 (The "gasoline war" in Switzerland).
  • After us the future . From the positive subversion. 13th edition, Zytglogge, Gümligen 2001 (first edition 1979), ISBN 3-7296-0098-2 (as paperback: Goldmann Sachbuch 11349, Munich 1985, ISBN 3-442-11349-0 ).
  • M-spring . From migrosaurs to human proportions. Zytglogge, Gümligen 1980, ISBN 3-7296-0107-5 .
  • Women as consumers . In: Arnoldshainer Protocols Volume 80. Evangelical Academy in Hesse and Nassau Arnoldshain, Schmitten 1980.
  • Helge Pross, Hans Schäfer, Hans A. Pestalozzi: Man or Manager? 3 lectures; Forum, November 12, 1981, Alte Oper Frankfurt / Dt. Leasing AG. Frankfurt am Main [1982].
  • Peace in Germany . The peace movement: how it became, what it is, what it can become. Goldmann Taschenbuch 11341, Munich 1982, ISBN 3-442-11341-5 .
  • Save Switzerland - get rid of the army! 3rd edition, Zytglogge, Gümligen 1989 (first edition 1982), ISBN 3-7296-0337-X .
  • The gentle dumbing down. Against False New Age Doctrines and Their Brothers - A Pamphlet. Hermes, Düsseldorf 1985, ISBN 3-88958-011-4 .
  • Up the trees, you monkeys . Zytglogge, Gümligen 1989; 9th edition 1998, ISBN 3-7296-0313-2 .
  • Obituary. In: Weltwoche , 31/2004

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Karin Marti-Weissenbach: Hans A. Pestalozzi. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland . November 26, 2009 , accessed March 24, 2014 .
personal data
SURNAME Pestalozzi, Hans A.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Pestalozzi, Hans Adolf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss manager, social critic and author
DATE OF BIRTH February 7, 1929
PLACE OF BIRTH Zurich
DATE OF DEATH July 14, 2004
Place of death Wattwil