Roungkhaw Pink 1101

Imperial Project
Colonist: Denmark
Colonies: Greenland (America Continent)

What colonies did they have in that area of the world?

- Americas
- Danish West Indies
- Greenland

What type of rule did they use?

- In 1979, Greenland received limited autonomy and became a self-governing part of the
Danish kingdom. Greenlanders gained the right to their own legislature, taking control of
some internal policies, the economy, as well as social and cultural development. One of
the first decisions of the authorities of the island was to change Danish names to
Eskimo. Greenland is now officially called Kalaallit Nunaat and its capital is Nuuk. Also,
the politics of Denmark took place in the framework of both direct and indirect
democracy.

What resources did they take from the colony?

- Denmark hoped to find riches in Greenland, especially minerals and sea animals. Since
Greenland is a huge territory known to be full of minerals and there was always a hope
for wealth there.

Was the “white man’s burden” a factor in colonization?

- Yes, Greenlandic politician stated in a press release: “The 25 percent reduction in wages
represents serious discrimination which is reminiscent of discrimination based on skin
color. It is an insult toward all Greenlanders. It must be removed and it will be removed.”
But in 1964 a new wage system, based exclusively on the place of birth, was instigated.
The unchanged discrimination gave rise to widespread criticism. The idea of the white
man’s burden is to bring the lower races and cultured into the light. It was formulated in
the three C’s of colonialism: Christianity, civilization, and commerce.

Was there any competition with other powers over the colony?
- I​n 1931, there was a competition between Denmark and Norway (now separate nations)
over control of parts of Greenland.
- In 1941, Greenland became a protectorate of the United States, but eventually was
returned to Denmark
What were the political, economic and religious reasons for colonization?
Economics:
- Greenland was a good place to hunt sea mammals and blubber was an important
product in Europe at that time.
- Blubber was used as fuel for things like street lamps and trains.
- Street lamps all over Europe were fueled by blubber
- Natural resources
- Minerals
- Mining
- Sugar production

Political:
- Danish colonial administration utilized the concept of a Greenlandic ‘tradition’ in their
efforts to govern the behavior of the Greenlanders.
- They did not want to change the Greenlandic hunting practices
- Denmark set up a direct channel of control from the Danish monarchy in Copenhagen to
the colonial districts in Greenland.
- Individual colonies were run very differently because the harsh weather did not
allow regular contact between the districts
- Danish colonial policy in Greenland has been interpreted in two ways
- They claim that they created a more democratic colony than other colonizers.
- The second view focuses on the ways in which Danish colonial policies were
designed to extract resources from Greenland. (desire to exploit Greenland’s
resources)
- The financial success of Denmark’s colonization have to depend on traditional
- Governmentality is a Foucauldian term
- Focused on liberalism as a political rationality

Religious:
- Leif Eriksson, son of Erik the Red, brought Christianity to Greenland from Norway.
- Greenlanders were converted to the Christian faith by the Danish Royal Mission and the
Hernhutians
- Lutheran Church

Was slavery apart of the colony?

- Violence and forced exploitation of labor were absent from Denmark’s colonization of
Greenland.
- This is not because of an absence of the motivation of economic exploitation,
but because violence would not have been the most effective way to extract
resources from Greenland
How did “social Darwinism” legitimize colonization?
- An awakening critique of civilization, drawing on Rousseau’s picture of the noble savage
came to work in alliance with the later social Darwinist currents to underpin a growing
fascination with the Inuit’s adaptation to life in extremely hostile surroundings.
- Nineteenth-century Euro-Americans began to clothe Eskimos in a new, romantic image
that they wear to this day.”
- As noted by several scholars, the idealized image pertained to the traditional Inuit
culture whereas the “civilized” Inuit were considered to be “corrupted by
civilization.”

What was the effect of colonization on the population of the colony?

- Greenlanders spoke Danish
- Towns, housing, sanitation, and the infrastructure were mainly carried out by Danish
workers.
- Greenlanders were paid 25 percent less by the Danish state than Danes employed in
the same positions.
- Greenlanders who had resided more than ten years in Denmark became eligible to earn
the same wages as Danes.

How has having been a colony still affect the modern country today?
- Danish languages
- Danish currency
- Greenland's long association with Denmark has benefited the island's inhabitants in
many tangible ways, such as in raising standards of living and improving health care and
education
- Free health care, subsidized by the Danish government, is available to all
Greenlanders
- Education standards are identical to those in place in Denmark and rely heavily
on Danish teachers and administrators to keep their school system operational.
- Most manufactured and consumer goods available in Greenland are imported from
Denmark.
- Trading partner with Denmark
- Greenland holds two seats in the Danish parliament
- The Danish military is responsible for the protection of Greenland, which does not
maintain its own force.