Iceland’s External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the occupation of Denmark: Danish and British Shelter
This paper argues that Iceland enjoyed essential shelter, for its development and prosperity, provided by Denmark and Britain. Societal relations with Copenhagen were of fundamental importance in the preservation and evolution of Icelandic identity and culture, providing the foundation of the modern...
Published in: | Veftímaritið Stjórnmál og stjórnsýsla |
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University of Iceland
2015
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.13177/irpa.a.2015.11.2.4 https://doaj.org/article/818fa6ba535c4e4dbdb959cea06411b3 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:818fa6ba535c4e4dbdb959cea06411b3 2023-05-15T16:46:35+02:00 Iceland’s External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the occupation of Denmark: Danish and British Shelter Baldur Thorhallsson Tómas Joensen 2015-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.13177/irpa.a.2015.11.2.4 https://doaj.org/article/818fa6ba535c4e4dbdb959cea06411b3 EN IS eng ice University of Iceland http://www.irpa.is/article/view/2087 https://doaj.org/toc/1670-6803 https://doaj.org/toc/1670-679X 1670-6803 1670-679X doi:10.13177/irpa.a.2015.11.2.4 https://doaj.org/article/818fa6ba535c4e4dbdb959cea06411b3 Stjórnmál og Stjórnsýsla, Vol 11, Iss 2, Pp 187-206 (2015) Iceland small states shelter Denmark Britain Political institutions and public administration (General) JF20-2112 Political science (General) JA1-92 article 2015 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.13177/irpa.a.2015.11.2.4 2022-12-31T06:45:15Z This paper argues that Iceland enjoyed essential shelter, for its development and prosperity, provided by Denmark and Britain. Societal relations with Copenhagen were of fundamental importance in the preservation and evolution of Icelandic identity and culture, providing the foundation of the modern society and leading to the establishment of the Icelandic state. Danish financial backups created the basis for the island’s economic prosperity in the 20th century. Moreover, Denmark provided partial political shelter in terms of significant diplomatic support in guaranteeing trade agreements with other states. Also, Denmark led by example and Iceland followed its foreign policy. On the other hand, Denmark failed to provide Iceland with protection of its land and waters and economic cover when it was in most need. Moreover, the economic cover it did provide was, at times, highly costly. Denmark had been downgraded to a small European power in the post-Napoleonic period. In practice, Britain was in control over the North Atlantic. It guaranteed Iceland’s neutrality and connection to the outside world and markets when the Danish authorities failed in these areas, as long as British interests were also served. Nor did British protection come without cost. Accordingly, this paper confirms the common claim of small-state studies that small states are at the mercy of their larger neighbours. Moreover, our findings indicate that Iceland’s growing autonomy did not affect its need for political, economic and societal cover. Article in Journal/Newspaper Iceland North Atlantic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Veftímaritið Stjórnmál og stjórnsýsla 11 2 187 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English Icelandic |
topic |
Iceland small states shelter Denmark Britain Political institutions and public administration (General) JF20-2112 Political science (General) JA1-92 |
spellingShingle |
Iceland small states shelter Denmark Britain Political institutions and public administration (General) JF20-2112 Political science (General) JA1-92 Baldur Thorhallsson Tómas Joensen Iceland’s External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the occupation of Denmark: Danish and British Shelter |
topic_facet |
Iceland small states shelter Denmark Britain Political institutions and public administration (General) JF20-2112 Political science (General) JA1-92 |
description |
This paper argues that Iceland enjoyed essential shelter, for its development and prosperity, provided by Denmark and Britain. Societal relations with Copenhagen were of fundamental importance in the preservation and evolution of Icelandic identity and culture, providing the foundation of the modern society and leading to the establishment of the Icelandic state. Danish financial backups created the basis for the island’s economic prosperity in the 20th century. Moreover, Denmark provided partial political shelter in terms of significant diplomatic support in guaranteeing trade agreements with other states. Also, Denmark led by example and Iceland followed its foreign policy. On the other hand, Denmark failed to provide Iceland with protection of its land and waters and economic cover when it was in most need. Moreover, the economic cover it did provide was, at times, highly costly. Denmark had been downgraded to a small European power in the post-Napoleonic period. In practice, Britain was in control over the North Atlantic. It guaranteed Iceland’s neutrality and connection to the outside world and markets when the Danish authorities failed in these areas, as long as British interests were also served. Nor did British protection come without cost. Accordingly, this paper confirms the common claim of small-state studies that small states are at the mercy of their larger neighbours. Moreover, our findings indicate that Iceland’s growing autonomy did not affect its need for political, economic and societal cover. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Baldur Thorhallsson Tómas Joensen |
author_facet |
Baldur Thorhallsson Tómas Joensen |
author_sort |
Baldur Thorhallsson |
title |
Iceland’s External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the occupation of Denmark: Danish and British Shelter |
title_short |
Iceland’s External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the occupation of Denmark: Danish and British Shelter |
title_full |
Iceland’s External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the occupation of Denmark: Danish and British Shelter |
title_fullStr |
Iceland’s External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the occupation of Denmark: Danish and British Shelter |
title_full_unstemmed |
Iceland’s External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the occupation of Denmark: Danish and British Shelter |
title_sort |
iceland’s external affairs from the napoleonic era to the occupation of denmark: danish and british shelter |
publisher |
University of Iceland |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.13177/irpa.a.2015.11.2.4 https://doaj.org/article/818fa6ba535c4e4dbdb959cea06411b3 |
genre |
Iceland North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
Iceland North Atlantic |
op_source |
Stjórnmál og Stjórnsýsla, Vol 11, Iss 2, Pp 187-206 (2015) |
op_relation |
http://www.irpa.is/article/view/2087 https://doaj.org/toc/1670-6803 https://doaj.org/toc/1670-679X 1670-6803 1670-679X doi:10.13177/irpa.a.2015.11.2.4 https://doaj.org/article/818fa6ba535c4e4dbdb959cea06411b3 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.13177/irpa.a.2015.11.2.4 |
container_title |
Veftímaritið Stjórnmál og stjórnsýsla |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
187 |
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