Draft:Axel Jonas Halbach

Axel Jonas Halbach (born 18 March 1934 in Hamburg; died 12 December 2022 in Ismaning) was a German economist, writer and artist.

Axel Jonas Halbach
Born	(1934-03-18)18 March 1934 Hamburg, Germany
Died	12 December 2022(2022-12-12) (aged 88) Ismaning, Germany
Occupation(s)	economist, writer and artist
Spouse	Edelgard Halbach

Life and Career

Professional Background

Halbach attended the Gymnasium Hamburg-Volksdorf. Following his vocational training in business, he worked for many years at the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich, where he served as a staff member in the department for developing countries. In this role, he was effectively the editor-in-chief of Afrika-Studien, a renowned academic series, which published more than 40 volumes between 1975 and 1999.

Over the course of his professional career, Halbach was involved in more than 100 development projects. Among other contributions, he provided empirical evidence showing that countries with more market-oriented economic policies tended to perform better in terms of economic and social indicators than centrally planned economies. His findings sparked significant debate within the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and contributed to a major paradigm shift in German development policy.

A particular focus of his work was Southern Africa, especially Namibia. Even before the country's official independence in 1990, Halbach was commissioned with numerous studies and the development of a national master plan. He coordinated over twenty sector-specific assessments and was considered one of the most influential external experts in the country’s independence process. His recommendations were later present even in the Office of the President in Windhoek.

Halbach was the author and co-author of numerous academic studies, which are catalogued in major libraries around the world. His publications address topics in development economics, international cooperation, and regional economic analysis.

Selected Academic Publications

• Ghana als Wirtschaftspartner. Verlag Bundesstelle für Aussenhandelsinformation, Köln 1969.
• Aspekte der Industrialisierung in Tropisch-Afrika. Weltforum-Verlag, München 1971.
• Theorie und Praxis der Evaluierung von Projekten in Entwicklungsländern. Weltforum-Verlag, München 1972.
• Die Südafrikanischen Bantu-Homelands: Konzeption, Struktur, Entwicklungsperspektiven. Weltforum-Verlag, München 1976, ISBN 3-8039-0129-4.
• Die neuen Staaten dieser Erde. Eine informative Länderkunde für über 100 Nationen. Hrsg.: Heinrich Schiffers unter Mitwirkung von Axel Halbal. Safari-Verlag, Berlin 1979, ISBN 3-7934-1546-5.
• mit Rigmar Osterkamp, Jürgen Riedel: Die Investitionspolitik der Entwicklungsländer und deren Auswirkung auf das Investitionsverhalten deutscher Unternehmer. Weltforum-Verlag, München 1982, ISBN 3-8039-0255-X.
• Multinationale Unternehmen und Zulieferindustrien in der Dritten Welt. Campus Verlag, Frankfurt/New York 1985, ISBN 3-593-33525-5.
• mit Klaus V. Beck: Rohstoffverarbeitung und Rohstoffvermarktung in der Süd-Süd-Kooperation. Weltforum-Verlag 1986, ISBN 3-8039-0339-4.
• Südafrika und seine Homelands. Strukturen und Probleme der „Getrennten Entwicklung“. Weltforum-Verlag, 1988, ISBN 3-8039-0359-9.
• mit Rigmar Osterkamp: Die Rolle des Tauschhandels für die Entwicklungsländer. Weltforum-Verlag, 1988, ISBN 3-8039-0367-X.
• mit Rigmar Osterkamp: Strukturanpassung in Entwicklungsländern und flankierende Maßnahmen der Industrieländer. Weltforum-Verlag, 1990, ISBN 3-8039-0386-6.
• mit Helmut Helmschrott: Industrialisierung der arabischen OPEC-Länder und des Iran: Ausbau und Planung der petrochemischen und energieintensiven Industrien. Weltforum-Verlag 1991, ISBN 3-8039-0395-5.
• mit Siegfried Schönherr: Der Golf nach dem Krieg: Wirtschaft, Politik, Rüstung. Weltforum-Verlag, 1991, ISBN 3-8039-0397-1.
• mit Christine Ahrens, Uwe-Christian Täger: Transformation des Binnenhandels in Osteuropa. Ansätze der marktwirtschaftlichen Umgestaltung planwirtschaftlicher Distributionssysteme. Duncker und Humblot, 1993, ISBN 3-428-07874-8.
• mit Helmut Helmschrott: Wirtschaftspolitische Reformen in Indien: Analyse – Kritik – Erfahrungen. Weltforum-Verlag, 1994, ISBN 3-8039-0423-4.
• Perspektiven regionaler Wirtschaftskooperation im Nahen Osten. Weltforum-Verlag, 1994, ISBN 3-8039-0422-6.
• mit Thomas Röhm: Das neue Südafrika: Wachstumsimpulse für den schwarzen Kontinent? Weltforum-Verlag, 1998, ISBN 3-8039-0481-1.
• Namibia: Wirtschaft, Politik, Gesellchaft nach zehn Jahren Unabhängigkeit. Weltforum-Verlag, Bad Godesberg 2000. ISBN 3-8039-0494-3.

Artistic Work

Halbach began writing his own adventure stories between the ages of 14 and 17, inspired by his passion for the novels of Karl May. These early writings eventually developed into a collection of 20 independent volumes.

His fascination with foreign lands led him to travel abroad early in life; during 1956/57 and 1963/64, he lived for a year each in South West Africa and South Africa. These formative experiences had a lasting impact on his later professional career in development cooperation, which spanned more than 30 years and took him to over 25 countries across Africa and Asia.

At the Gymnasium in Hamburg-Volksdorf, his artistic talents were encouraged. In addition to painting, he wrote humorous and reflective poetry—often in the tradition of Wilhelm Busch—which accompanied him throughout his life. A solo exhibition of Halbach's paintings was held in November 2017 in Ismaning at the KreativRaum “An der Schwelle.” In verse, he depicted episodes from school, university, professional life, and family, filling three large binders with his poetic output.

Writing, painting, and poetry remained constant pursuits throughout both his professional career and retirement. He became especially known for his so-called Karl May pastiches — novels written in the style of Karl May, incorporating his characters and themes. Some of his major works were published by Blitz-Verlag in Munich, while others appeared as self-published editions.

Selected Literary Works

In der Reihe Kara ben Nemsi - Neue Abenteuer im Blitz-Verlag

• Die El-Wahabiya-Bande. Band 16, E-Book, ISBN 978-3-95719-126-7.
• Der Karawanentod. Band 17, E-Book, ISBN 978-3-95719-127-4.
• Auf dem Weg zu Halef. Band 18.
• Im Tal der Herba Juvenilis. Band 19.
• Der Blick des Tetrapylon. Band 20. E-Book, ISBN 978-3-95719-130-4.
• Schwarzes Elfenbein. Band 21. E-Book, ISBN 978-3-95719-131-1.
• Von Leptis Magna in den Dschebel Nefusa. Band 22. E-Book, ISBN 978-3-95719-132-8.
• König Salomons Diamanten. Band 23. E-Book, ISBN 978-3-7579-9540-9.

In der Reihe Im Wilden Westen Nordamerikas (Neue Abenteuer mit Old Shatterhand) im Blitz-Verlag

• Im Land der Saguaros. Band 14. ISBN 978-3-95719-445-9.
• Der Schatz der Kristallhöhle. Band 15, Hrsg.: H. W. Stein, E-Book ISBN 978-3-95719-446-6.
• Das Gold der Apachen. Band 16. E-Book, ISBN 978-3-95719-447-3.
• Bloody Fox. Band 17. Taschenbuch, E-Book, ISBN 978-3-95719-448-0.
• Blutige Schluchten. Band 19. E-Book, ISBN 978-3-95719-450-3.
• Schamanen. Band 20. E-Book, ISBN 978-3-7579-9528-7.

Source:

Reception

Halbach’s literary works have been discussed in various specialist publications. Volker Krischel, among others, acknowledged his contributions in the KMG-Nachrichten as well as in the journal Karl May in Leipzig. Halbach’s writings were regarded as respectful and creative extensions of the Karl May universe.

Further Reading

• Günther Wüste: Axel Jonas Halbach. In: KMG-Nachrichten Nr. 195, 2018.
• Volker Krischel: Die etwas andere Welt des Karl May. Axel Jonas Halbach und seine Karl-May-Pastiches. In: Karl May in Leipzig Nr. 117, 2019.
• Volker Krischel: Old Shatterhands Lost-World-Abenteuer. In: Karl May in Leipzig Nr. 119
• Volker Krischel: Karl Mays Helden auf etwas anderen Pfaden. Der Blitz-Verlag bringt zwei Ro­ma­ne von Axel J. Hal­bach neu he­raus. In: Karl May & Co. Nr. 161, 2020. [mit Interview]

External Links

Commons: Axel Jonas Halbach – Collection of images, videos and audio files Works by and about Axel Jonas Halbach in the catalogue of the German National Library Axel Jonas Halbach at Blitz-Verlag