Laboratoire de l'IRSEM n°7 - 2012

Greenland is asserting itself as a key actor in the Arctic. As long as Greenland remains a self-ruled territory or “subject” in international relations after gaining independence, its role in the Arctic will first and foremost be of a regulating nature. Given its area, the role of its icecap, its strategic position in the Arctic, and the value of its natural resources, Greenland is of the highest importance for developments in the Arctic as well as for climate and energy security. Therefore, Greenland should be more highly considered for strategic research on the Arctic. It is necessary however, to master Danish in order to have access to first-hand information on Greenland in the field of political science. The case of Greenland questions the ability of strategic research to prioritise both the study of threats and the prevention of risks. Both should be considered at the same level of importance: a risk that is not prevented can become, sooner or later, a threat. Understanding the consequences of a potential weak Greenlandic state is essential to preventing the threat that a foreign economic assistance to an independent Greenland could mean for global energy security and future developments in the Arctic.