Overview

An indispensable guide to Greenland why it matters, who covets it and why this wilderness of 56,000 inhabitants could become the next global flashpoint. Greenland is no ordinary island. From its discovery by Norsemen to its contemporary strategic significance, it has been a frontier for human exploration and empire, today emerging as a facilitator of geoeconomic competition. This book delves into the rich history and complex politics of Greenland, revealing how this icy expanse has shaped and been shaped by the world. This short history begins with the Vikings, whose mysterious disappearance from Greenland in the 1400s remains one of history's great puzzles. It then explores the island's gradual transformation from a Danish possession to an autonomous territory, charting its role during the World Wars and its strategic importance during the Cold War. Greenland finds itself at the centre of a renewed 'great game', balancing transatlantic ties, rising Chinese influence, and mounting domestic pressures for independence. And that's before President Trump's agenda is factored in. Starting from Trump's plan to purchase Greenland, Elizabeth Buchanan dissects the island's contemporary role and poses four provocative scenarios for its future from full independence to an icy geopolitical standoff with Denmark.So You Want to Own Greenland? is an essential read for anyone curious about the future of this frozen frontier and its place on the global stage.

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9781805264521

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Reviews

'A highly readable (and expert) guide to a remote place that is becoming increasingly important.' * <b>Gordon Corera, former BBC Security Correspondent, co-host of The Rest is Classified podcast</b> * '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.' * <b>Patrick J. Sullivan, Director, The Modern War Institute at West Point Military Academy</b> * '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.' * <b>Ben Hodges, former Commanding General, United States Army Europe</b> * 'An informative and thought-provoking overview of a timely topic.' * <b>John McCannon, author of <I>Red Arctic</I> and <I>A History of the Arctic</I></b> * 'One of the least known and understood places on the planet, Greenland sits today at the centre of geopolitical contest for the Arctic. 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.' * <b>Tom Dans, former US Arctic Research Commissioner</b> * 'Forget everything you thought you knew about Greenland. Elizabeth Buchanan flips the map on its head, revealing the world's largest island as an unexpected, enduring geopolitical prize. Buchanan unearths Greenland's captivating history in an accessible prose. 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 realise.' * <b>James Kraska, S.J.D., Charles H. Stockton Chair of International Maritime Law, U.S. Naval War College; and author of <I>Disruptive Technology and the Law of Naval Warfare</I></b> * '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.' * <b>Bruce Jones, Director and Senior Fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy, the Brookings Institution</b> * 'Buchanan offers a cheeky and irreverent guide to the colonial history and possible future of Greenland. But beneath the humorous surface, she delves into important issues of Indigenous rights, domestic politics, maritime and resource concerns, and geostrategic competition. Readers will be both illuminated and entertained.' * <b>Maria Rost Rublee, Professor of International Relations, University of Melbourne</b> * 'If there is a story of ""horrible geopolitics"" to be told then Elizabeth Buchanan tells it in her book about Greenland, Grønland and/or Kalaallit Nunaat.' * <b>Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics, Royal Holloway, author of <I>The Arctic: What Everyone Needs to Know</I></b> * 'From the first Viking colonies, to the intricacies of Danish colonialism, to the first American schemes to take over the island, Buchanan's timely work is a crucial reminder that the future of Greenland belongs to Greenlanders. It is an essential primer for anyone looking for a breezy yet meticulously researched backgrounder about Greenland.' * <b>Andrew Chater, Lecturer in Political Science, King's University College, Ontario</b> *

'A highly readable (and expert) guide to a remote place that is becoming increasingly important.' * <b>Gordon Corera, former BBC Security Correspondent, co-host of The Rest is Classified podcast</b> * '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.' * <b>Patrick J. Sullivan, Director, The Modern War Institute at West Point Military Academy</b> * 'An informative and thought-provoking overview of a timely topic.' * <b>John McCannon, author of <I>Red Arctic</I> and <I>A History of the Arctic</I></b> * 'One of the least known and understood places on the planet, Greenland sits today at the centre of geopolitical contest for the Arctic. 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.' * <b>Tom Dans, former US Arctic Research Commissioner</b> * 'Forget everything you thought you knew about Greenland. Elizabeth Buchanan flips the map on its head, revealing the world's largest island as an unexpected, enduring geopolitical prize. Buchanan unearths Greenland's captivating history in an accessible prose. 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 realise.' * <b>James Kraska, S.J.D., Charles H. Stockton Chair of International Maritime Law, U.S. Naval War College; and author of <I>Disruptive Technology and the Law of Naval Warfare</I></b> * '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.' * <b>Bruce Jones, Director and Senior Fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy, the Brookings Institution</b> * 'If there is a story of ""horrible geopolitics"" to be told then Elizabeth Buchanan tells it in her book about Greenland, Grønland and/or Kalaallit Nunaat.' * <b>Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics, Royal Holloway, author of <I>The Arctic: What Everyone Needs to Know</I></b> * 'From the first Viking colonies, to the intricacies of Danish colonialism, to the first American schemes to take over the island, Buchanan's timely work is a crucial reminder that the future of Greenland belongs to Greenlanders. It is an essential primer for anyone looking for a breezy yet meticulously researched backgrounder about Greenland.' * <b>Andrew Chater, Lecturer in Political Science, King's University College, Ontario</b> *

Author Information

Elizabeth Buchanan PhD is a senior fellow with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. She co- founded the polar warfare programme at West Point and was head of research for the Royal Australian Navy. Her previous books are Russian Energy Strategy in the Asia-Pacific and Red Arctic: Russian Arctic Strategy under Putin.

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