Arctic ‘Commonwealth’ of Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands has never been a community of equal partners: Commentary

Who would have thought that anything good would come out of America’s re-election of Donald Trump? The consequences of his strategic plans in relation to Greenland and other Arctic countries have, however, turned out to be a long-awaited gift for the Greenlandic and the Faroese people.

One of the many ironies in this political chapter is that it has become abundantly clear that being 100% loyal to the U.S. and its foreign policy doesn’t lead to what Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (and most Danish politicians) might have imagined or hoped for. They are now facing challenges in their relationship with the U.S. which shows that it doesn’t always pay to show solidarity to those in power – perhaps quite the opposite.

Another irony is that all of a sudden, most Danish politicians agree that the Greenlandic and the Faroese people have a right to their own languages and cultures.. They are now talking about how important it is to respect the rights of the people of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and it is indeed tragicomic to observe this sudden shift – both for the Faroese people (like myself) and I imagine even more so for people from Greenland. After all, it is Greenland that is the focus of attention at the moment and the Greenlandic people have been most exposed to discrimination – particularly in recent decades.

The fact is that the “Commonwealth” of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands isn’t an alliance of equal (and like-minded) partners – and it never has been.

An example of this is the recent case regarding children who have been forcibly removed from their Greenlandic parents, based on a so-called simplified psychological “parent test” that doesn’t take linguistic and cultural differences into account. This brings to mind centuries-old IQ tests, which were based on an ethnocentric worldview. It also evokes memories of the so-called “spiral case” (where birth control in the form of spirals were forced upon many Greenlandic girls and women, some of them unknowingly) in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the “Danification project” at the start of the 1950s. In this program, Greenlandic children were forcibly moved from Greenland to Denmark to live with families there.

Belated Apology

Not long ago, Danish authorities finally apologised to the 22 Greenlanders who were forcibly moved to Denmark in the 1950s. It is  grotesque that while making the apology, “simultaneously” Denmark started a new social policy leading to the removal of Greenlandic children from their homes. Now a withdrawal of these tests has taken place, and one can only wonder whether this rapid change is yet another consequence of the massive international interest in Greenland at the moment.

It is extremely interesting to observe how political opportunism can – in the blink of an eye – make more or less all Danish politicians change their rhetoric and (apparently) attitudes towards Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and the possible future of the “Arctic Commonwealth”. Denmark has for centuries ruled Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and although this power has been significantly reduced over time –  both Greenland and the Faroe Islands have had a so-called “home rule” in recent decades –  this doesn’t mean that the three countries have been equal in any way. Far from it.

In essence, Denmark’s position in relation to Greenland and the Faroe Islands is a legacy of an outdated worldview that creates a number of problems. The clearest examples of this are linked to Greenland and the Faroe Islands’ lack of full political autonomy in key areas, notably security policy and international relations. There are also problems stemming from the imbalance that will always exist between those in power and their “subjects”. This kind of relationship can never be founded on trust, since those in power will always exploit their position to their own advantage.

Another problem of being a nation still clinging to the remnants of the past (long abandoned by other countries)  presents itself in the self-understanding of the Danish people, as well as in their relationship with the outside world. How can you hold on to imperialistic powers – with the arrogance, assertiveness and inevitable use of force that follows from this – while at the same time presenting yourself as a modern society based on the rejection of ethnocentric ideals that were done away with more than 100 years ago?

Blind Spots

It is always difficult to see oneself clearly, and we all have blind spots –  on an individual level and as a society. In anthropology, one talks about a so-called “homeblindness”: how the research of circumstances that are too close to home can lead to blind spots. Sometimes you don’t recognise the reflection in the mirror that others hold up in front of you, which can lead to a defensive reaction. But it can be healthy to be open to how others view you. In relation to Denmark’s role as a colonial power, it is probably time that the Danish authorities opened their eyes to the paradox of self-understanding: The country still behaves like a colonial power while at the same time presenting itself as a modern liberal democracy.

When the relationship and the cooperation between Denmark on the one hand, and Greenland and the Faroe Islands on the other, is presented as well-functioning, this is old news. One can turn back time by a few decades ago and this same view would be expressed by the “same” people, i.e. by the many who generally don’t questions the status quo, preferring things to be as they have “always” been.

When the Faroe Islands fought to be able to use their own language in schools and in church, there were many who believed there was nothing wrong with being forced to speak Danish. And it is the exact same story today; many still believe that the relationship between the two countries is as it should be, and there is nothing to complain. However, the same people are always satisfied when new victories are won regarding their rights, and they never want to return to a time when, for example it was forbidden to speak Faroese.

There is, obviously, inequality and imbalance in the relationship between Denmark and Greenland, as well as between Denmark and the Faroe Islands. It plays out in many different areas, but most clearly in relation to Danish economic and security interests. When there was an expectation that oil would be found in the Faroese underground a few years ago, a fierce battle took place between Danish and Faroese authorities regarding the ownership of the oil. However –  I would say fortunately – no oil was ever found. In recent years, we have had repeated challenges regarding the violation of our right to our own airspace, and discussions are taking place regarding Danish (and US) interests in establishing a military base in the Faroe Islands.

As I mentioned, it is naive to believe that the “Commonwealth” of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands is a community of equal parties. But it is probably the case that it’s mostly Faroese and Greenlandic people who have been naive. We have in recent weeks seen Danish politicians quickly change their attitude (and rhetoric) regarding the rights of Greenland and the Faroe Islands so quickly. This suggests that they have been fully aware of their constant use of force.

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. After all, why would Denmark be any different to other colonial powers that have used their strength for their own benefit, as long as the power was theirs and until it was no more?

Sigri M. Gaїni is  a lecturer at the University of the Faroe Islands