Overview

""An engaging blend of history and modern-day political analysis ... with a hard line of Realpolitik and a surprising dash of humor."" — Ron Charles, The Washington Post Why have foreigners over the centuries kept wanting to own Greenland? The fascinating, calamitous story of the many who’ve tried . . . and uniformly failed . . . An indispensable guide to Greenland—why it matters, and how it could become the next global flashpoint. Ever since its discovery Greenland has been a frontier for human exploration, empire and geostrategic competition. This book delves into that rich history and complex politics, revealing how a country of just 56,000 inhabitants, 80% of which is above the Arctic Circle, has shaped—and been shaped by—the world. Elizabeth Buchanan’s short history begins with Erik the Red and the Vikings, Greenland’s first colonizers—whose settlement of over 2,000 people mysteriously disappeared. She explores the island’s evolution from a Danish possession into an autonomous territory, and its role in the World War II, when soldiers from the U.S. helped Greenland’s 15-man army, operating on dogsleds, capture Nazis trying to set up secret, remote surveillance outposts. She details how Greenland became a strategic hot spot in the Cold War arms race between the U.S. and Russia — when the U.S. built a nuclear-powered base under the Greenland icesheet, and President Kennedy devised Project Iceworm, a plan to deploy 600 ballistic ice-hidden missiles there. Finally, she dissects Greenland’s position today at the center of a new “great game,” featuring Cold War belligerents the U.S. and Russia and now China, and the mounting domestic pressures for independence—not to mention President Trump’s agenda to acquire the landmass. Buchanan poses provocative yet compelling scenarios for Greenland’s future, providing an essential read for anyone curious about this frozen frontier and its place on the world stage.

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9781685892555

Table of Contents

Reviews

"". . . an insightful and witty examination of what makes Greenland such desirable but difficult to maintain real estate. . . . It’s a breezy overview of serious international developments."" — Publishers Weekly “Elizabeth Buchanan masterfully unpacks Greenland’s centuries-long entanglement with empires, opportunists, and would-be buyers. This is a brilliant, bold, witty, and necessary guide to the island’s past, present, and uncertain geopolitical future.” — Patrick J. Sullivan, PhD., Director, The Modern War Institute at West Point Military Academy “Elizabeth Buchanan, with perfect geostrategic timing, has provided us with a very readable and insightful explanation of the history of strategic interest in Greenland and why its location on the map and its expected rich critical mineral deposits make it even more relevant today.” — Ben Hodges, former Commanding General, United States Army Europe “If there is a story of ‘horrible geopolitics’ to be told then Elizabeth Buchanan tells it in her book about Greenland.” –– Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics, University of London, author of The Arctic: What Everyone Needs to Know. “A highly readable (and expert) guide to a remote place that is becoming increasingly important.” –– Gordon Corera, former BBC Security Correspondent, co-host The Rest is Classified podcast “Insightful, provocative, and absolutely indispensable for anyone looking beyond the headlines to grasp the true significance of this crucial Arctic nation. It's the ultimate ‘buyer's guide’ to a land far more vital than most realize.” — James Kraska, S.J.D., Charles H. Stockton Chair of International Maritime Law Department Chair, U.S. Naval War College, Visiting Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, and author of Disruptive Technology and the Law of Naval Warfare “An immensely readable tour through the fascinating history, complicated geopolitics, and long saga of Greenland’s relationship with the outside world, especially the United States, including the latest twist with Trump; written by that rare creature, a genuine expert on all things Arctic.” –– Bruce Jones, Director and Senior Fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy, the Brookings Institution “An informative and thought-provoking overview of a timely topic.” — John McCannon, author of A History of the Arctic “An essential primer for anyone looking for a breezy yet meticulously researched backgrounder about Greenland.” –– Andrew Chater, Lecturer in Political Science, King's University College, London, Ontario “One of the least known and understood places on the planet, Greenland sits today at the center of geopolitical contest for the Arctic. Dr. Buchanan does an extraordinary job of providing timely and needed scholarship in a highly entertaining and enjoyable read. I recommend to anyone wishing to know more about this wonderful land and her people.” –– Tom Dans, former US Arctic Research Commissioner

Author Information

Elizabeth Buchanan PhD is a polar geopolitics expert who co-founded the polar warfare program at West Point, was head of research for the Royal Australian Navy, and been a Visiting Maritime Fellow at NATO’s Defense College. Her previous books are Russian Energy Strategy in the Asia-Pacific and Red Arctic: Russian Arctic Strategy under Putin. She is currently a senior fellow with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

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