In 2018, a colleague and I, along with a group of Greenlandic analysis assistants, carried out some of the complete surveys to this point on public opinion in Greenland. We travelled to 13 randomly chosen cities and settlements throughout the island nation, conducting in-person interviews with a consultant pattern of grownup residents.
The survey explored a variety of matters. We requested for views on local weather change, financial issues – and the prospect of independence from Denmark. Till just lately, this was the most recent ballot on what the individuals of Greenland thought of this problem.
Greenland, a former Danish colony, is presently an autonomous territory inside the Kingdom of Denmark. This political association grants Greenland intensive self-rule, together with management over most home affairs, in addition to its personal prime minister and parliament. Nonetheless, Denmark retains authority over international coverage, defence and financial coverage.
Whereas our survey outcomes had been coated in Greenlandic and Danish media upon their launch, they acquired scant worldwide consideration. This modified abruptly on January 15, when newly re-elected US president Donald Trump reposted an old news article about our outcomes. The headline acknowledged that two-thirds of Greenlandic residents assist independence.
Truth Social
Trump didn’t add a remark within the submit however the insinuation was clear given his current statements about annexing Greenland from Denmark: Greenlandic residents need independence from Denmark, and due to this fact, they may be open to different political or financial preparations with the US.
“I feel we’re going to have it,” Trump recently said after a telephone name with the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, who instructed him the land was “not on the market”. Trump has previously spoken of by some means “buying” Greenland however has since moved on in direction of talking in additional assertive phrases about taking management of the territory.
Again in 2018, once we carried out the survey, Trump had not but revealed any plans to annex the island nation. It was a situation we may hardly even have imagined and due to this fact didn’t ask our contributors about. As such, no matter how Trump framed them, the survey outcomes by no means indicated that the inhabitants harboured a want to hitch the US.
Actually, a recent survey carried out by Sermitsiaq (a Greenlandic newspaper) and Berlingske (a Danish newspaper) instantly addressed this query and located that solely 6% of respondents wished Greenland to go away Denmark and as an alternative turn into a part of the US.
Within the study I published based mostly on the 2018 knowledge assortment, I reported {that a} majority of the Greenlandic inhabitants aspired to independence. Two-thirds of the contributors thought that “Greenland ought to turn into an unbiased nation sooner or later sooner or later”.
Opinions had been extra divergent concerning the timing of independence. When requested how they’d vote in an independence referendum if it had been held at this time, respondents who acknowledged a desire had been evenly break up between “sure” and “no” to independence.
EPA
The Act on Greenland Self-Government, handed in 2009, grants the Greenlandic authorities the authorized authority to unilaterally name a referendum on separating from the political union with Denmark. In line with the legislation, “the choice concerning Greenland’s independence shall be taken by the individuals of Greenland”.
In the course of the 15 years since its passage, the choice to name a referendum has not been exercised. That is seemingly because of the potential financial penalties of leaving the union with Denmark.
Every year, Denmark sends a block grant that covers roughly half of Greenland’s finances. This helps a welfare system that’s extra intensive than what is out there to most People. As well as, Denmark administers many expensive public providers, together with nationwide defence.
This backdrop presents a dilemma for a lot of Greenlanders who aspire to independence, as they weigh welfare considerations towards political sovereignty. This was additionally evident from my research, which revealed that financial issues affect independence preferences.
For a lot of Greenlanders, the island nation’s wealthy pure assets current a possible bridge between financial self-sufficiency and full sovereignty. Overseas investments and the related tax revenues from useful resource extraction are seen as key to lowering financial dependence on Denmark. Presumably, these pure assets, which embrace uncommon earths and different strategic minerals, additionally assist clarify Trump’s curiosity in Greenland.
As Greenland’s future is more likely to stay on the centre of a geopolitical energy battle for a while, it’s essential to do not forget that solely Greenlanders have the proper to find out their very own path. What scarce info is out there on their views means that whereas many aspire to independence, it’s not pushed by a want to hitch the US.
