Leadership for our times: Learnings from an international statesman
The late US President John Kennedy described Dag Hammarskjold, UN Secretary-General from 1952-1961, as “the greatest statesman of our century.” In “Politics and Conscience: Dag Hammarskjold – On the Art of Ethical Leadership,” political scientist and historian Roger Lipsey (2020), offers this 140-page book to the new generation of political leaders throughout the world. Lipsey notes: “Could the radiant and pragmatic thought of this man touch people, touch elected political leaders in many countries, touch concerned citizens? His thought and example are urgently needed today...This is the sound of true leadership: deeply informed, psychologically astute, principled without selfadulation, clear and quiet, inspiring.”
Here, the author writes about the character of this Swedish diplomat, a lawyer and an economist, who became the second UN Secretary-General at age 47. An outstanding public figure seven decades ago, his book, Markings, had made a profound influence on myself and many in my generation. Published in 1965 after his death from a “suspicious” (believed to be unlikely a pilot error”) plane crash in 1961, it is a moving account of his “inner struggles” and reveals the depth of his intellect, faith, and spirituality.
Lipsey’s book, a Kindle edition which I completed in two sittings, describes Hammarskjold as one “bound by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, equal rights of men and women, and the practice of tolerance – that people can live together in peace.”
From Lindsey’s narrative, let me share insights which I had cherry-picked:
“As a visionary, he never promised paradise as he led efforts to secure economic welfare, social justice and stability in countries and cultures of widely differing character.”
Asked what is most important, he said: “Sit on the ground and talk to the people.”
He was both a man of action and a scholar of political ideas, a man of religion, Christian mystics and early classics of India and China.
He lived and expressed the code of politics as service to humanity, engaging himself as a whole – mind, feeling, body, governed by searching attention.
The “who” of politics is more important than the “what,” as events are shaped by identities of participants. Dialogue, negotiation requires objectivity, a willingness to listen. You can only hope to find a lasting solution to conflict if you have learned to see the other objectively, to express his difficulties subjectively. One who appreciates people has always the upper hand. One must push his awareness to the utmost limit without losing his inner quiet, must have a heightened awareness with an inner quiet, a humility without being a chameleon.”
Lipsey considers Hammarskjold, the first in Western political life to practice mindfulness and without fanfare, and to give it a crucial role.
Influenced by scholars and mystics like Meister Eckhart, Thomas a Kempis, Jan van Ruysbroek, and Martin Buber who wrote “I and Thou,” he practiced stillness, silence, attributes that made him a good listener, watchful for words, gestures that can shift balance from conflict to equitable compromise. “Keep trying; don’t be sidetracked by fears that the other has cards up his sleeve… It is when we all play safe that we create a world of utmost insecurity. It is in the dark shade of courage alone that the spell can be broken.”
Although an activist, he speaks of the value of watchful waiting. Perseverance, not just patience is necessary... Strengthen faith in the future of man. Speaking about himself, Hammarskjold said he is grateful for being allowed to listen, to observe, to understand.
He is also influenced by Arthur Waley’s book, “The Way and its Power,” a commentary of the Tao Te Ching, where a group of peacemakers were constantly rebuffed but never discouraged. Of the difficulties in working towards the road to peace, he said there are no precedents or experiences which entitle us not to try again, so we must persevere. Our weapons are trust in our impartiality, our experience and knowledge, our maturity of judgment.
Maturity of mind is shown by our capacities for perspective and reflection, a passion for understanding situations correctly, a sense of belonging. It is not to hide one’s strength out of fear, and consequently, live below one’s best. It is having a new look of self-consciousness, the kind you can only attain when you have become indifferent to yourself through an absolute assent to your fate. He who has placed himself in God’s hand stands free... he is entirely at ease with others, because he has granted them the right to judge.
In politics, the results of the work of the most brilliant mind will find the value determined by character. Those called to leadership may profit from intelligence but can justify their position by integrity. The best fighter for liberty is one who has achieved inner freedom... one who is willing to sacrifice his own peace for that of others.
Self-knowledge, is as important as understanding the hardships of ordinary people.
Hammarskjold stood up for principle against the greatest powers during his encounters whether in the Suez crisis to Indochina and other places where conflict needed to be mediated.
At this time when human rights in the Philippines had deteriorated, according to World Report 2021, due to the President’s war on drugs which had targeted mostly the poor, the noticeable spike in violations due to the COVID19 lockdown, and our conflict with China over sovereignty of the West Philippine Sea, we may take a leaf from the kind of ethical leadership that Hamarskjold had shown during his nineyear tenure at the UN.
Although his peacekeeping initiatives were primarily focused on territorial conflicts, his human relations and leadership perspectives and style are essential, most especially in such areas as trust and confidence-building.
The lessons shared could likewise help us take a more vigilant and active stance in the arena of national politics and world affairs.
Hammarskjold’s principled leadership could be a template in our voter education campaigns. We could take a more activist and non-neutral stance in the UN Human Rights Council, even through quiet but determined lobby with the Council which for many years is dominated by countries that are reportedly shown to be less appreciative of our human rights situation like China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Egypt. It will also be remembered that the Philippines, is still committed to traditional principles of non-intervention.
Of this book, retired Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams said: “At a time when political leadership seems to be assimilating itself to the worst and most corrosive bits of the entertainment industry, and when the whole idea of public service is disregarded or despised, it matters that we know where to look for hope and challenge.”
My email, florangel.braid@gmail.com