Swiss sociologist and former national councilor Jean Ziegler dies at 92
via Lefaso.net1 min read
Jean Ziegler, the Swiss sociologist, writer, and former national councilor, passed away on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Geneva at the age of 92 due to Parkinson's disease. His family announced the news, which was confirmed by several Swiss media outlets. An emblematic figure of the left, Ziegler leaves behind a significant intellectual and political legacy. For over half a century, he was a vocal critic of global inequalities, world hunger, and the excesses of liberal globalization. Born on April 19, 1934, the Geneva-based sociologist had a career marked by commitment. He served as a member of the Swiss Parliament and also as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, advocating tirelessly for greater global social justice. Jean Ziegler authored numerous works exposing the mechanisms perpetuating poverty and inequality. Even in his later years, he remained active in public discourse. In 2024, at the age of 90, he published a new book titled "Where is Hope?", a plea for resistance against contemporary crises, armed conflicts, famines, and social injustices. Throughout his life, Jean Ziegler garnered both admiration and controversy. Admired for his outspokenness and dedication to the underprivileged, he profoundly influenced contemporary critical thought and inspired generations of activists, academics, and human rights defenders. With his passing, Switzerland loses a major intellectual figure whose struggles and writings will continue to fuel reflections on th
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