1. Phillip Clark Clark 1
December 1st, 2011
Professor John Dedie
Intro to International Relations
Dag Hammarskjöld: A Reserved Temperament Concealing a Mighty Spirit
Hammarskjold is a unique, comprehensive, and illuminating profile of the second
Secretary-General to ever sit at the helm of the United Nations. The book was penned by Brian
Urquhart, who at the time of its publishing was an Assistant Secretary-General of the global
body, and had been an official there in various capacities since its creation. It was published just
as the transformative effects of globalization were beginning to take hold in the twentieth century
(Urquhart 3). In immense detail, the author sketches the life of Dag Hammarskjöld not merely by
utilizing biographical and anecdotal details but also through the sharing of poignant personal
accounts that portray and depict the genuine core of who the late Secretary-General was.
Aside from chronicling the life of Dag Hammarskjöld, there really does not seem to be
any ulterior or biased objective that Mr. Urquhart has tried to promote. All of the events in the
book are described exactly as they happened, without nuance, other than being told primarily
from the perspective of Dag Hammarskjöld. Doing so proved to be a prudent concept. Not only
does it prevent the reader from being distracted by partisan or ideological persuasions but it
allows one to fully engage the subject matter described in the book, unencumbered.
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Throughout the book, it was impressive to see the kind of knowledge and exposures
Brian Urquhart possessed in order to compose it. Obviously a massive amount of time and
research went into its compilation. This makes it all the more clear that all of the facts and
incidents described in the book have been thoroughly analyzed to ensure their veracity has been
preserved. Yet, the scope of the book was so minutely detailed that at times it became tedious to
read and to comprehend all the events that were being relayed. In fact, so much space was spent
describing certain incidents that one almost became buried in the amount of information that was
being conveyed regarding a certain issue before finally emerging to a new topic. Moreover, too
much time was spent describing the inner minutiae of the organisms of the United Nations that it
was hard to see the big picture the book was striving to convey.
Overall, the book is a wonderful resource if one wants to find out more information about
the late Secretary-General’s life and his impact on world affairs in the twentieth century. The
intimate proximity that the author enjoyed with the subject of the book and events detailed in it
also make for highly enlightening reading. Although the events described are numerous and quite
exhaustive, the book is invaluable in offering one a personal vantage point into the life of this
persistent steward of peace. Also, the necessity and indispensable nature of diplomacy in
resolving international conflicts is constantly highlighted throughout the pages of the book.
Dag Hammarskjöld was born on July 29, 1905 in Jönköping, Sweden (Urquhart 19). His
father, Hjalmar, was the governor of a Swedish province and former Prime Minister of the nation
from 1914 – 1917. He left office being deeply unpopular in the wake of the First World War. It
had
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been his decision to remain neutral and not involve the country of Sweden in the war; this was
later frowned upon when it was seen as an action of cowardice and indecision (Urquhart 20). As
a result of his father’s unsuccessful political tenure Dag’s childhood was a profoundly lonely and
isolated one (Urquhart 21). Perhaps this is what motivated him to never claim allegiance to a
particular political party. As a young adult, Hammarskjöld received degrees in law and
economics from the University of Uppsala. He later obtained a doctorate in economics while
studying in Stockholm. By age thirty, he had been appointed the Under-Secretary of the Swedish
Ministry of Finance while simultaneously serving as the Chairman of the Governors of the Bank
of Sweden (Urquhart 22). In 1947 Hammarskjöld was named the Under-Secretary in Sweden’s
Foreign Office with respect to all economic concerns. Two years later, he was appointed the
Secretary-General of the Foreign Office at the young age of forty-four (Urquhart 23).
Throughout his life, Dag Hammarskjöld was known as a man of intense “integrity.” In
his own words, “maturity of mind” was something that was extremely important to him
(Urquhart 18). Although, in terms of his own demeanor he was usually reserved, and often
extremely shy, the way that his personality was expressed and offered to others proved to be
nothing but sheer honesty, disinterestedness, and clarity of intention (Urquhart 33). He did not
enjoy a large entourage of acquaintances but rather had a close, intimate circle of friends that he
remained in contact with throughout his life (Urquhart 26). Hammarskjöld never married and
because of this rumors circulated that he was a homosexual (Urquhart 27). Given the time, and
the fact that to live as an openly gay man was not yet a notion that could be comprehended, it is
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uncertain whether these speculations bore any truth. His Christian faith firmly undergirded and
familiarized him with the notions of sacrifice and service to others that he would employ
throughout his career as a diplomat. As inspiring as his faith was to him, Hammarskjöld never
sought to proselytize or impose his beliefs on others. It was always a deeply personal matter
(Urquhart 24).
In 1953 Dag Hammarskjöld was elected as the second Secretary-General of the United
Nations. His name had been put forward out of an attitude of resignation that wanted to avoid
political confrontation and pick an individual who would not polarize the members of the
Security Council – whose unanimous agreement was required to make the election valid
(Urquhart 13). Because he was an unknown on the international stage he was seen as a safe,
compromise candidate. Hammarskjöld was reluctant to accept such a high profile and demanding
role. But his strong adherence to the notion of “vocation” that impelled him through many
circumstances throughout his life helped him to gradually accept this calling (Urquhart 23).
Shortly after his accession to this new and challenging position he would comment on his new
responsibilities:
In my new official capacity the private man should disappear and the international
public servant should take his place. The public servant is there in order to assist,
so to say from the inside, those who take the decisions which frame history. He
should – as I see it – listen, analyze, and learn to understand fully the forces at
work and the interests at stake, so that he will be able to give the right advice
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when the situation calls for it. Don’t think that he – in following this line of
personal policy – takes but a passive part in the development. It is a most active
one. But he is active as an instrument, a catalyst, perhaps an inspirer – he serves
(Urquhart 15).
Hammarskjöld would indeed be all of these things and more as he served his two-term tenure
leading the United Nations.
As he took on this monumental vocation Hammarskjöld’s own personality and daily
routine contributed in enabling him to becoming a reliable and effective leader. Despite his busy
life he could work long hours during the day without getting tired or fatigued, never seeming to
run out of energy (Urquhart 29). In addition to this stringent constitution he also had a
telegraphic memory. When giving speeches he usually did not rely on notes or references. On
one occasion, while on a flight back from Mexico, he was asked by the Foreign Minister of the
country if he could be provided with the text for a speech he had given earlier that day. Dag
Hammarskjöld then proceeded to deliver the entire speech verbatim (Urquhart 31). His mastery
of languages also assisted him in being able to effectively communicate to all those he worked
with daily at the United Nations. He fluently spoke English, French, and German and would
switch languages when he wanted to more clearly express his thoughts and intentions (Urquhart
31-32). In general, Hammarskjöld approached his job with dedication and attentiveness. The
author writes:
His keen sense of timing allowed him both to keep alternatives open and, at the
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at the right moment, to create new and unexpected options for the parties to a
conflict. In an apparent deadlock he had a talent for spinning a new concept that
both the conflicting parties might be able to grasp without losing face
(Urquhart 33).
Throughout his tenure, Dag Hammarskjöld saw the primary political function of the
United Nations as controlling and moderating conflicts that occurred throughout the globe.
Through mediation and conciliation he hoped to achieve this aim, while remaining firmly
committed to the sovereign equality of all member states (Urquhart 47). In his words, the United
Nations was “not created in order to bring us to heaven, but in order to save us from hell”
(Urquhart 48). On analysis of his role, Hammarskjöld described his job as being a “secular pope”
(Urquhart 51). He was also convinced that problems around the globe were best solved on a
personal basis. Consequently, he would fit as many visits as possible into his schedule to
member states of the United Nations. He never grew weary of being exposed to new people,
countries, and cultures (Urquhart 33).
During his time heading the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjöld presided over a host of
international conflicts and pressing affairs. As he was just stepping into his shoes as Secretary-
General the Korean War had gripped the globe. The country had fallen into civil war, with the
two halves of the nation fiercely divided. On July 26, 1953 the Korean Armistice was signed that
brought a ceasefire to the fighting (Urquhart 87). Yet, the two poles remained politically
separated. During April of 1954, Hammarskjöld organized a conference in Geneva, Switzerland
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with the objective of achieving reconciliation between the northern and southern factions of
Korea. Foreign ministers of the United States, Great Britain, France, China, and the Soviet Union
were all in attendance. In spite of such a gathering, filled with hope and optimism, no agreement
was ever reached and Korea remains divided today between North and South (Urquhart 88).
In the Middle East Hammarskjöld supported the effort towards peace agreements
between Arab states and the newly formed nation of Israel (Urquhart 98). Following the
construction of the Suez Canal he used diplomacy to intervene in the crisis that ensued. After
intense dialogue and consultation on all sides he convinced the United Nations to declare the use
of force invalid by Israel, France, and Great Britain as a means to resolve the conflict. In
response to these circumstances the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) was created. This
would hereafter establish some form of a United Nations peacekeeping presence around the
world when it was necessary to arbitrate conflicts that had escalated to such a point that outside
intervention was required to reach peace (Urquhart 102).
In 1958 the Secretary-General sought to reconcile a conflict between Jordan and Lebanon
that was being waged. In order to compile solutions to the crisis Hammarskjöld organized the
UN Observation Group in Lebanon and opened a United Nations office in the country of Jordan.
As a result the United States and Great Britain, both whom had sent troops to the region in
attempts to quell the fighting that was occurring, withdrew their military contingents (Urquhart
115).
The Republic of the Congo gained independence from France in 1960. Following this
pivotal development Katanga, one of the provinces of the country, made the decision to formally
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secede. The Congolese military then staged an uprising and the state erupted into civil war.
Belgium, an ally of the Congo, had already sent troops to assist and coordinate a peaceful
resolution to the crisis. The unrest would continue into the next year and would only become
worse. A United Nations peacekeeping retinue was sent to the region but fighting broke out
between the peacekeeping troops and the forces from Katanga. Seeing no end in sight, the
Secretary-General took it upon himself to fly to Katanga and meet with its leader, President
Tshombe, in the hopes of negotiating a peaceful resolution to the discord that had severed the
Congo. Tragically, as his flight was en route to his destination the plane crashed and Dag
Hammarskjöld perished along with fifteen other passengers (Urquhart 133).
In a melancholy sense, it almost seems appropriate that a man who found his life
validated by his Christian faith would leave this earth just as Jesus of Nazareth did, in service to
others, for the sake of a greater good. Yet, the memory of Dag Hammarskjöld is far from
extinguished. Shortly after his death he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the only individual
to be so honored posthumously. He continues to remain the mold against which all subsequent
Secretary-Generals of the United Nations are measured. In an era of so much tension,
polarization, and disunity the world has much to learn from this simple, humble man of peace.
Wherever dialogue is pursued instead of obstruction, compassion and tolerance rather than
hatred, and peace instead of rash violence, the spirit of the late Secretary-General will live on and
continue to inspire many.
