A Society full of Contrasts
On arrival in Greenland, your eye will take in the crowded airports, busy fishing ports, high-rise buildings, modern enterprises, international car brands, educational institutions, cafés and cinemas.
These impressions are mixed with the stereotypical perception of a remote Arctic society that is only sparsely populated. Amazingly, Greenland is all of these things at once, and the contrast between old and new is striking.
Pulsating Urban Life
Greenland is in many ways a country that has managed to retain its identity as an “original” country with an original population. It is also a fact that in small towns and settlements the primary source of income still comes from seal hunting, which today provides a living for some 2,500 people.
In small towns and settlements life is lived at a gentle pace a long way from the more “pulsating”- by Greenlandic standards – urban life which you can find in the three biggest towns Nuuk, Ilulissatand Sisimiut.
Greenland today
Greenland recognises itself as a self-governing, autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. His Majesty King Frederik the 10th is the ceremonial Head of State, as the system of governance is parliamentary democracy. Since 1979, Greenland has had its own government and parliament. Even though it is geographically part of North America, Greenland is politically part of Europe and much of its history is influenced by strong colonial past with Denmark.
High Technology and Production
Did you know that 98% of the population use advanced digital telecommunication services? Or that through Royal Greenland, Greenland is the world’s biggest supplier of coldwater prawns, and thereby has extensive experience of innovative product development, sustainable production and efficient distribution of quality products? And did you know that Greenland’s ice sheet is used today to produce Greenlandic beer as well as ice and water for export?
Does Greenland want Independence?
Many people ask if Greenland is considered a country. Others question, Why does Denmark own Greenland? If you’ve watched the fourth season of Borgen – Power and Glory, you will have noticed that Greenland’s geopolitical status is a complicated affair. Read on to get a snapshot of Greenland’s political status and the historical background of Greenland’s road to independence.
Greenland has the right to declare independence. In Greenland’s Self-Government Act enacted by Denmark and Greenland in 2009, the Greenlanders are recognised as a people or nation entitled to the right of self-determination, with the option of independence. While it is recognised that most Greenlanders favour independence, opinions and strategies of how to reach this status are many, not least concerning the assumption of responsibility for its budget.
From Colony to Home Rule to Self Rule
Greenlandic colonial history begins with the Norwegian priest Hans Egede who arrived in 1721 to establish missions in the country. It was a colony until 1953, when Denmark unilaterally changed the status of Greenland to a constituency in the Danish Kingdom. This development in administrative status marked the beginning of modern society in Greenland and from this stage until 1979 the Greenlanders fought to obtain more autonomy. A struggle, which was intensified in the 1970s and led to the introduction of Greenlandic Home Rule in 1979.
With the introduction of Home Rule in 1979, Greenland established its first government, Landsstyret (and since the 2009 Self-Government Act, its official title is Naalakkersuisut), entitled to legislate and manage almost all parts of the administration. At the same time, the Provincial Council was given the title of Parliament, or Landsting (since 2009 called Inatsisartut, which means “those who make laws” in Greenlandic).
In the following decades, Greenland’s Home Rule took over the administration of areas such as health, education, taxation, infrastructure, business affairs, domestic affairs, spatial planning, social affairs and housing, which were formerly administered by the Danish state. The next goal for Greenland was to gain even more influence in its own situation, especially in relation to the large reserves of minerals in the Greenlandic underground. The historical and cultural connection between people and land, in regards to what lies beneath the ground, is an important one. Other goals for the future include increased administration of justice, including the police and the courts.
In a referendum in November 2008, 75% of voters voted in favour of the Self- Government Act. This led to the inauguration of Greenlandic Self Rule from June 21st 2009 (Greenland’s National day). In addition to taking control over mining and natural resources, Greenland also attained the right to take over administration of several other areas. Greenlandic authorities thus today legislate and manage most domestic affairs, and bear full financial responsibility in these acquired areas.
Greenland has now taken over the jurisdiction of a vast majority of administrative areas, with the judicial system being the largest exception.Foreign Policy, defence and national security, judicial and legal affairs and the monetary system are areas that will remain in the control of Danish jurisdiction, according to the Self-Government Act. However, the Itilleq declaration from 2003 ensures that Greenland must be heard in cases that relate to their interests and Greenland can in areas take over negotiation and enter into agreements with other nations
Did you know?
It has been argued by Icelandic lawyer Gudmundur Alfredsson that the incorporation of Greenland into Denmark in 1953 was brought about undemocratically and unlawfully, meaning that Greenlanders have the right to self-determination by means of political decolonisation.
Inatsisartut, The Parliament of Greenland
- The Parliament of Greenland convenes in Nuuk
- There are 31 members of parliament in Greenland elected at least once every four years
- They meet twice a year for an Autumn and Spring session
- In addition to its own national Parliament, Greenland has two representatives in the Danish Parliament, the Folketing that seek to safeguard Greenland’s interests in the Danish legislature
Greenland’s Financial Constellation
Greenland’s economy is mainly financed through fisheries. Other sectors also contributing to Greenland’s economy include minerals, energy and tourism. The Danish State provides a general annual financial subsidy to Greenland to cover the expenses that are a consequence of the areas that have been taken over by the Greenland government. With the Self-government Act, however, the subsidy amount was frozen and adjusted to Danish inflation levels. This means that as Greenland takes over more areas that Denmark now manages, the amount will not increase. Additionally, Denmark funds the judicial system including the police, courts and correctional institutions, as they remain a part of Danish responsibility.
Greenland was, through its relation to Denmark, part of the European Union until it left after a referendum in 1982. In 1985 it acquired status as an Overseas Country and Territory (OCT). Greenland also receives an annual subsidy from the European Union to the amount of roughly over EUR 30 million that historically was linked to Greenland giving EU fisheries rights in Greenland waters. In 2021 – 2027, EUR 225 million is allocated to Greenland in the form of a bilateral program grant for the long-term development of Greenland. 90% of the grant will target the education sector, while 10% targets a new area of Green Growth, which covers energy, production of hydrogen, biodiversity, climate and research. For more information you can check the Government of Greenland’s webpage.
Foreign Affairs Policy
According to the Danish constitution, the Danish government is responsible for all foreign affairs and security matters in the Kingdom of Denmark. The Government and Naalakkersuisut shall cooperate in international affairs as laid down in Chapter 4 of the Self-Government Act with a view to safeguarding the interests of Greenland as well as the general interests of the Kingdom of Denmark. While this is the case, the Greenlandic government has an active policy on foreign and security affairs. The Danish government must in close, respectful and equal cooperation involve Greenland on issues that pertain to Greenland and the Arctic more broadly. Since the establishment of the Home Rule Act, and later the Self-Rule Act, the Danish government cooperates with the Greenlandic government on policies which are pertinent to the interests of Greenland. Furthermore, it is possible through Article 12 of the Self-Government Acts for Greenland to negotiate and enter into international agreements that solely concerns fully taken over administrative areas.
In 2021, a Foreign, Security and Defense Policy Contact Committee was furthermore established between Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, in the acknowledgement that foreign, security and defense policy are common matters and that the desire for a close, respectful and equal cooperation requires structured information exchange, coordination and dialogue.
In line with its active foreign strategy, Greenland officially cooperates in Nordic cooperation, Arctic cooperation, the UN, the WTO and with the EU. Some notable achievements include being an independent de-facto member of the Nordic Council, North Atlantic Cooperation and actively participating with the Inuit people of the circumpolar region through the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC). Furthermore, it has bilateral agreements with various countries.
Since the introuction of Home Rule, the Greenlandic Government has been able to establish representations, or embassies, where Greenland has special commercial interests. There are currently representations in Copenhagen, Washington DC, Brussels, Reykjavik and Beijing.
Is Greenland part og NATO?
As Greenland (and the Faroe Islands) is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, it does not have independent membership of NATO. As part of the Danish Kingdom, Greenland is by default covered by the North Atlantic Treaty since Denmark joined in 1949. Upon its entry, Denmark negotiated some military limitations which included no bases, no nuclear warheads and no Allied military activity on Danish territory. This was implemented from 1953, with the exception of Greenland, where a permanent peacetime stationing of American forces was accepted. It was discovered later that the Americans had a nuclear presence during the Cold War in Greenland that was tacitly consented by the Danish government. These agreements were in part due to the controversial Article X of the Greenlandic treaty signed during World War II by Ambassador Henrik Kauffman, who represented the free and independent Denmark while the country was occupied. This plot was the focus of the film The Good Traitor.
In October 2020, NATO’s Maritime Command formally signed an agreement with the Danish Joint Arctic Command (JACO), which recognised the importance of maritime security and operational cooperation between the two entities.
Greenland Border Disputes
Greenland has been riffed with sovereignty and border disputes over time due to both cartographic conflicts and physical occupation. Notable disputes include:
Glossary
- What is a dependency?
A territory or province controlled by another country. - What is a constituency?
A district or specified area the population of which elects representatives to a parliament or another body with legislative power. - What is a colony?
A people or territory remotely controlled by a foreign country
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