The Arctic Policies of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands

• Main Author: Žvirblys, Rokas
• Other Authors: Jurkynas, Mindaugas
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: Lithuanian; English
• Published: Institutional Repository of Vytautas Magnus University 2020
• Subjects: Arctic; Greenland; the Faroe Islands; Iceland; policy; Faroe Islands; Arctic Council; greenlandic
• Online Access: https://vb.vdu.lt/VDU:ELABAETD8758126&prefLang=en_US

Because of the melting ice around the Arctic circle, states are able to look deeper into opening possibilities hidden in the lands and waters north of the polar circle. Politically strongest countries, being able to make the most difference, get the most attention in the media, academic writings and in the international Arctic forums. However, smaller countries - Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland also are involoved in Arctic politics and have their own role and positions. The question is – what are the political and economic Arctic policies of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland? The objects are economic, energy developments and the policies for the Arctic region of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The aim of this paper is to establish dynamics of the Arctic policies of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland in spheres of politics, economics and energetics. The tasks are: to discuss and remodel a theoretical background to the topic based on the Joseph Nye‘s and Robert Keohane‘s set of ideas called complex interdependence; to analyze Greenland’s, the Faroe Islands’ and Iceland’s economic, energy situation and policies; to analyze Arctic policies of the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland. The hypothesis of this master’s thesis is that Arctic policies of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands are based on connection and interdependence building in the region influenced by economic and energy situation and developments of these countries. Methods used in the thesis will be a case study, a qualitative comparative analysis and a document analysis method. The key of Arctic policies of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands is to be seen, heard, strengthen cooperation with states that share common views and issues, use the international environment in the Arctic to the fullest. Such strategy is a viable option for these states, as their economies are dependent on international markets, which require them to be active internationally. Developments and policies of the three countries in oil exploration, renewable energy, fisheries and tourism industry are analyzed. The Faroe Islands and Iceland have published their own Arctic strategies, while Greenland provides very little information overall. Iceland has a long term approach based on cooperation and connection building in the Arctic, while Faroese and Greenlandic policies have a strongly pronounced self-centered approach and are affected by overreliance on the fishing industry. Greenland recently is putting most emphasis on tourism industry, the problem is that the country concentrates far more on economy and energy considerations than on politics. All three countries aim at positioning themselves among the decision-makers in the region, emphasize cooperation between each other, acknowledge the importance of the UNCLOS and the Arctic Council, but differences show up when discussing, for example, the Arctic 5 format, indigenous people.