Obituary of Fritz Gloede

Fritz Gloede, born on March 7, 1947 joined the Department of Applied Systems Analysis (AFAS) in 1981. At AFAS, which in 1995 became ITAS (Institute of Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis) he worked as senior researcher until he retired in 2012. His research was very important in profiling AFAS / ITAS as a central place of theory and practice of technology assessment in Germany, and he was renowned as a valiant sociologist in the public debate on TA.

He was a keen observer and commentator of the development of technology assessment in Germany. As a critic, he was well versed in style, and often provocative. Nevertheless, in concrete projects, he was a meticulous empirically working sociologist. At the Institute, among the colleagues, he was appreciated as an inspiring and savvy interlocutor.

Theoretical work in the field of TA was one of his great strengths. Comparison and critique of TA concepts, e.g. the concept of consequences ("Folgenbegriff"), participation and participatory TA, early warning, and democratic technology policy, were some of his central themes. The consistency and clear diction of his theoretical work still deserves great respect. His theoretical premises were social conflicts and contestation. This basic assumption made him immune and indignant against attempts to confuse TA with acceptance research, innovation management or simple consensus building exercises.

Those who knew Fritz Gloede personally know that his spectrum of interests was much broader than merely TA. He not only had profound political knowledge, but was well versed in many fields, ranging from the early civilizations to Tolkien and further to the most advanced computer games.

We, the employees of the Institute, who knew him, mourn Fritz Gloede and will keep him in grateful remembrance.

The urn burial will take place on Tuesday, December 1 at 2 pm in the main cemetery of Frankfurt am Main. (30.11.2015)