AN expert has said there is unquestionably sufficient support for Greenland to become an independent nation.
In the eyes of Ruairidh Tarvet, a lecturer in Scandinavian studies at the University of Edinburgh, independence is there for the taking for the country’s population of 56,000 people, most of them from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds.
He said: “There no question of whether or not there’s enough backing for it. It’s all about getting your cards in place first – lining up the economy, future resources, then calling the referendum.”
Jens-Frederik Nielsen’s centre-right Demokraatit party won a surprise victory in the country’s parliamentary election last week, beating the two left-leaning parties that formed the last government.
The now likely president – once a coalition is formed – is at the helm of a pro-business party that has rejected US President Donald Trump’s efforts to take control of the island.
He has said that Greenlanders must be allowed to decide their own future as it moves towards independence from Denmark – though his party favours a slow approach as the country faces up to economic challenges, an ageing population and the lingering effects of Danish colonialism.
Greenland was fully colonised by Denmark in the early 18th century and has remained under direct Danish control for centuries. Greenland gained “home rule” in 1979 and secured further control over policing, justice and natural resources in 2009.
Denmark still funds about 50% of Greenland’s budget.
Tarvet believes there could be lessons for Scotland to take from an independent Greenland, “If they’re able to make a success of their economy through mining and rare earths, that could send a signal to Scotland about managing our own oil and gas better,” he said.
“We don’t have a state fund or a sovereign fund for the North Sea gas and oil industry. And if we had that, it could be more of an engine to drive forward independence.”
On what is fuelling independence sentiment in Greenland, Tarvet said: “Only two MPs sit in the Danish parliament to represent all of Greenland. Scotland only has 57 MPs in the British Parliament. So, you could say there’s a parallel in this idea that you feel like your voice isn’t heard.”
Despite both Scotland and Greenland having their own powers, the budgets set by another government still dictate their spending. And there are shared struggles around native languages – Gaelic and Greenlandic.
Tarvet stresses that there are critical differences between the two independence movements, however – even beyond the obvious gulf in population size.
“It’s important to draw these parallels. However there’s one big distinction, and that is that Greenlanders are an indigenous minority community that’s been subject to colonialism and conversion.
"Whereas many Scots were part of things that the British Empire did, and were quite high up in it.”
Greenland’s path towards independence took a major step forward in 2009, when the government in Copenhagen recognised the island’s right to self-determination under international law.
Four of the five main parties in last week’s election supported independence, though they disagreed on when and how to achieve it. Naleraq, the most aggressively pro-independence party, finished in second place with 24.5% of the vote. It was followed by Inuit Ataqatigiit, which led the last government, on 21.4%.
Dwayne Menezes, managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative, said: “What approach to independence will win the day will ultimately depend on if Demokraatit decides to form a coalition government, and if so, with which party.”
Regardless of pace, it seems there will be no turning back now for Greenland in its journey to full autonomy.
