ABOUT BOOK

This book traces Danish-Greenlandic relations over 100 years and is the first publication to cover~the period 1900-2000. The main trend is the development from a colonial situation in 1900 with a~state owned company runnig nearly all business to an open economy with steadily growing selfgovernment~for Greenland short of full independence. The Danish policy can be described as benevolent, but financially the budget was tight until after~the second World War, the philosophy being that Denmark should neither lose nor gain. After the~war there was heavy investment to bring Greenland nearer to standards of living comparable to~Denmark and substantial subsidies were given make that happen. ~The Greenlanders attitude towards Denmark developed along lines familiar from other examples~of decolonisation. The first phase of accepting the coloniser was long over, now seeking equality~with the coloniser was the main aim in their endeavours. From 1911 two provincial councils woiced~speaking the Greenlanders views and their political influence steadily grew. In 1953 Greenland got~representation in the Danish parliament. The third phase of doing without the coloniser began in the~early 1970s when Greenlanders sought home rule status, obtained in 1979. In the following twenty~years the Home Rule Authority gradually took over nearly all lawmaking and administration and~from 2004 a committee has explored ways of giving Greenland a more independent voice in foreign~affairs. In 2003 the ultimate goal was declared to be full independence.