January 2026

Dag Hammarskjöld, Neutrality, and the Myth of the “Backroom Westerner”

Dag Hammarskjöld, Leadership

In recent years, a certain interpretation has surfaced in discussions of diplomacy: the idea that Dag Hammarskjöld—before and during his time as Secretary-General of the United Nations—was quietly aligning with the West behind the polite “façade” of Swedish neutrality. It’s a tidy theory, and, frankly, it fits neatly into Cold War binaries. And it makes […]

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Dag Hammarskjöld, neutralitet och myten om “västmannen i kulisserna”

På svenska

Under de senaste åren har en viss tolkning dykt upp i diskussioner om diplomati: idén att Dag Hammarskjöld — före och under sin tid som FN:s generalsekreterare — i tysthet skulle ha allierat sig med västmakterna bakom den artiga “fasaden” av svensk neutralitet. Det är en prydlig teori och, ärligt talat, passar den väl in

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Leadership Lessons from Dag Hammarskjöld: Timeless Diplomacy for Modern Leaders

Leadership

In today’s world—whether in politics, corporate leadership, or international affairs—diplomacy and emotional intelligence are essential leadership skills. Few historical figures embodied these qualities as fully as Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations. Hammarskjöld’s leadership style was not rooted in dominance or public spectacle. Instead, he practiced quiet authority, strategic patience, and principled

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Tea with Enlai: Dag Hammarskjöld’s Quiet Diplomacy in China

Dag Hammarskjöld, Leadership

The American POWs Eleven captured American airmen were branded spies by the Communist Chinese government in the autumn of 1954. The Korean Armistice Agreement, signed on July 27, 1953, called for an end to all hostilities and the repatriation of prisoners of war to their home countries. However, because the Chinese convicted the airmen of

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Episode 41: Are New Year’s Resolutions Better in the Spring? 🤔

DTU Podcast

The holiday season is over and most people are back to the daily grind. Is this really the best time to make a resolution? Nature is still asleep. The ground is fallow. Why do we do this to ourselves? Links: https://source.washu.edu/2019/12/new-years-resolution-wait-until-spring/ https://www.bucksfamilynetwork.com/post/why-new-years-resolution-are-best-left-until-spring-mental-health Housekeeping note: this podcast will be releasing on a monthly basis. I am

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