The Islands of the Danish Realm: the Quest for Sovereignty in Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands
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The Islands of the Danish Realm: The Quest for Sovereignty in Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands by Masters of Arts in Island Studies Thesis Candidate Ryan Boulter University of Prince Edward Island April 28, 2006 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 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Abstract This paper examines the similarities and differences between the development of Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands from colonies toward sovereignty. All three island groups are examined in the context of history, national development, and external forces on the development their respective nation. Iceland, the Faroes and Greenland all were once as Danish colonies, but Iceland is the only one that has attained sovereignty. The Faroe Islands and Greenland have stopped short of sovereignty and retain Home Rule administrative powers within the Danish Realm. Many of the reasons why Iceland was able to obtain sovereignty are the same reasons why Greenland and the Faroe Islands have not been able to develop into sovereign nations. Iceland was able to build on its strong historic roots, high level of literacy, well organized and popular nationalist movement, and firm belief in an independent and prosperous Iceland. The Faroe Islands and Greenland have been hindered with late recognition of their culture and language, unorganized and unfocussed view of their future, and timidity regarding their economy and success as an independent nation. Greenland also has been held up by the vague and unresolved concept of aboriginal self government. Danish history, with a focus on Danish colonial history, is also examined to understand how Denmark has historically related with its colonies. Denmark was never a major colonial power with a mission to civilize. Danish colonialism was based almost purely on mercantilist purposes. The most important part of Danish colonial history is the development of the Danish Home Rule Model. The Home Rule Model, which can be traced back to the Icelandic Constitution of 1871, delegates the most administrative powers of all autonomy models in the international system. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. A cknowledgements I would like to thank first and foremost Rebecca Driscoll. She has loved and supported me, as well as listened to and read this thesis more than anyone ever will again. She has kept me on task, scheduled, and focused. Without Rebecca I would not have been able to complete this. I send you my love and thanks. Second, I would like to thank my parents Richard and Linda, as well as my two brothers Andrew and Raymond and their families. I would also like to thank Rebecca’s parents Bill and Ann Driscoll and their family for their love and support. Third, I would like to thank the University of Prince Edward Island faculty and staff. In particular the Department of Political Studies, Dr. Barry Bartmann, Dr. Henry Srebmik, Jogvan Morkore, Maureen MacKay, the Faculty of Arts, Dean Richard Kurial, the staff and faculty of the Robertson Library, the Institute of Island Studies, Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino, and all associated facility. Fourth and finally, I would like to extend my support and congratulations to all other Master of Arts in Island Studies students and alumni for their hard work and dedication to this new and unique program. I hope that the amazing support from the University of Prince Edward Island as well as the academic world continues for this young and exceptional program. Thank you and enjoy, Ryan Boulter Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction Introduction 1 Denmark: An Examination of the Literature 3 Iceland: An Examination of the Literature 4 Greenland: An Examination of the Literature 5 Faroe Islands: An Examination o f the Literature 7 Chapter 2 Danish History. Colonialism, and the Home Rule Model _________ 9 Introduction into Danish History 9 Denmark in World History 10 The Vikings to the Kalmar Union: 9'^-14'^ Century IS The Danish-Swedish Rivalry: 15'^-19‘^ Century 15 The End of Absolutism: Mid 19^^ Century 16 The Schleswig Issue: 1850-1920 16 Interwar and the ‘Peaceful Occupation’: 1920-1945 19 Post War Denmark and European Integration: 1945- Present 20 Danish Colonialism: A Brief Introduction 22 An Introduction into the Danish Home Rule Model 24 The Development of the Danish Home Rule Model 25 The Characteristics of the Danish Home Rule Model 27 The 1871 ‘Icelandic Constitution’ 28 The Faroese and Greenlandic Experience with the Home Rule Model 30 Conclusion 33 Chapter 3 Iceland’s Development into a Sovereign Nation _________________ 34 Iceland: An Introduction 34 The Discovery of Iceland 35 The First Settlers 39 The Age of Settlement: 870-930 40 The Birth of the Icelandic Commonwealth 42 The Sage Age: 930-1030 45 The Introduction of Christianity to Iceland: 1000 48 The End of the Icelandic Commonwealth: 1220-1262 49 Under Foreign Rule 52 The Kalmar Union Through to the Reformation: 1397-1550 53 The Reformation and Hardship for Iceland 56 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Trade Monopoly in Iceland 59 Skull Magnùsson: The First Icelandic Bailiff 61 Hard Times and the Emigration to North America: 18''’ and 19^'’ Centuries 62 The Building of the Icelandic Nation; Early Beginnings in the 19* Century 66 The End o f the Absolute Monarchy and the Birth of Icelandic Nationalism: I800-I85I 67 The Icelandic National Convention: 1851 71 The Icelandic Constitution of 1871 72 The Lead up to Icelandic Home Rule: 1874-1904 74 Icelandic Home Rule: 1904-1918 75 The Icelandic Kingdom and the Interwar years: 1918-1944 78 Iceland during World War II: The De Facto State and External Forces On Iceland 81 The Proclamation of the Republic of Iceland: 1944 85 Conclusion 86 Chapter 4 Greenland’s National Development Towards Sovereignty ________ 88 Greenland: An Introduction 88 Early Greenlandic History: Early Palaeo-Eskimo Culture in Greenland 90 The Viking Age in Greenland: lO"’ - 15''’ Century 92 The Rediscovery’ and ‘Colonization’ of Greenland: I6"'-20f’ Century 97 National Development; The Creation and Development of the Greenlandic Nation: 20* Century 99 External Forces on the Greenlandic Nation: The Experience of World War II 100 Post Second World War US Military’s Presence in Greenland 102 Social Developments in Post Second World War Greenland 107 Political Development in Post War Greenland 112 Structure of the Greenlandic Home Rule Government 115 The Greenlandic Economy and the Danish Block Grant 124 Conclusion 129 Chapter 5 The Faroe Islands National Development Towards Sovereignty 131 The Faroe Islands: An Introduction 131 The Discovery and Early Settlement o f the Faroe Islands: 8"’-I0"’ Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Centuries 133 Political, Economie, and Social Life in Pre-Reformation Faroe: ll'^- 13‘^ Centuries 137 Political Union, the Reformation, and Danish Dominance: 14*^- 16‘^ Centuries 139 The Old Faroese Life 141 The Law, Taxes, and Defence o f 16‘^-17 Century Faroes 142 The Trade Monopoly 145 The Faroese Tradition of Smuggling 150 Major Political, Social, and Economic Changes in 19^^ Century: The End of Absolutism and Trade Monopoly 152 Development of Written Faroese Language and the National Awakening: The Birth of Faroese Nationalism