Dag Hammarskjöld’s Early Career: From Academia to Public Service
Before he became the face of international diplomacy, Dag Hammarskjöld was a young man grappling with the same question many face: What’s next? Fresh out of school, Dag was not yet the celebrated UN Secretary-General, but rather a thoughtful, introspective young man determined to find his place in the world.
A Scholar’s Dilemma: To Teach or to Serve?
After completing degrees at Uppsala University, Dag faced a crossroads. Early on, he believed he’d become a teacher, sharpening the minds of others while continuing his own academic growth. But his father’s influence and a growing sense of responsibility pointed Dag toward public service. As Dag later explained in his contribution to the radio program This I Believe, a life devoted to helping others was an historic tradition for the Hammarskjöld family and he was not an exception to that rule.
We must also recall that Dag’s foundational years were shaped by horrors of WWI, rationing and shortages, and the reality of being a schoolchild when Hjalmar Hammarskjöld was Sweden’s Prime Minister. Hjalmar was given the pejorative “Hungerskjöld,” and Dag faced bullying at school when children, after hearing their parents’ comments at home, decided to fling insults at him. At a young age, Dag realized that war was a terrible, destructive thing.
The Leap into Public Administration
By 1930, Dag Hammarskjöld had an impressive education under his belt: a Bachelor of Arts degree that allowed him to dive into linguistics, literature, and history; a licentiate of philosophy degree in economics; and a master’s degree in law. Hjalmar retired from politics and the family moved from Uppsala Castle to Stockholm. Dag’s eldest brother, Bo, was already involved with government work himself and he suggested that Dag interview for an open position with the Royal Commission on Unemployment. Dag was skeptical about this because he was only 24 and didn’t possess a PhD. Would he stand out from the other applicants?
Of course. He was Dag!
His ability to assess complex issues without bias marked him as a rising star. Colleagues marveled at his calm demeanor, relentless work ethic, and keen insights – traits that would later define his diplomatic career.
Finding His Way: From Economics to Diplomacy
As Dag’s career progressed, he was increasingly involved in international issues. His work on Sweden’s economic policy during the Great Depression and the Marshall Plan following WWII prepared him for the complexities of global negotiations and Dag’s own language skills – being fully fluent in Swedish, English, French, and German – gave him a tremendous advantage. In Sweden, his work took him from the Royal Commission on Unemployment to the Finance Ministry and the Riksbank simultaneously and then to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It’s often said that we can’t make sense of how our life flows in the moment; we will only see it in hindsight. And looking back at the motion of Dag’s life, it’s as if Fate herself intervened to be sure he was ready for the Secretary-Generalship at the perfect moment.
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