Historical learning to structure dialogue on the future relationship between Denmark and the North Atlantic

Abstract

Denmark has been constitutionally linked to the North Atlantic since the Danish-Norwegian union of 1380. Denmark is a Continental European small state, whose relationship with Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland has been shaped by external shocks from great power conflict and national liberal ideas that all point towards ever greater and eventually full independence for the Faroe Islands and Greenland. This development continues in today’s international system shaped by power transition from West to East and the rise of China. Denmark and the North Atlantic need a common intellectual framework to analyze, debate and decide their future relationship based on historical learning. The 1918 union agreement between Denmark and Iceland made Iceland a sovereign and equal state in a personal union of shared monarch with Denmark. This union is a relatively less discussed but important contribution to historical learning for the future Danish-North Atlantic relationship.