So You Want to Own Greenland?

Lessons from the Vikings to Trump

Elizabeth Buchanan

$34.99

Paperback

In stock
Ready to ship

QTY:

English

C Hurst & Co
01 October 2025

History; European history; Geopolitics

An indispensable guide to Greenland

why it matters, who covets it and why this wilderness of 56,000 inhabitants could become the next global flashpoint.

Greenland is no ordinary island. From its discovery by Norsemen to its contemporary strategic significance, it has been a frontier for human exploration and empire, today emerging as a facilitator of geoeconomic competition. This book delves into the rich history and complex politics of Greenland, revealing how this icy expanse has shaped

and been shaped by

the world.

This short history begins with the Vikings, whose mysterious disappearance from Greenland in the 1400s remains one of history's great puzzles. It then explores the island's gradual transformation from a Danish possession to an autonomous territory, charting its role during the World Wars and its strategic importance during the Cold War.

Greenland finds itself at the centre of a renewed 'great game', balancing transatlantic ties, rising Chinese influence, and mounting domestic pressures for independence. And that's before President Trump's agenda is factored in.

Starting from Trump's plan to purchase Greenland, Elizabeth Buchanan dissects the island's contemporary role and poses four provocative scenarios for its future

from full independence to an icy geopolitical standoff with Denmark.

So You Want to Own Greenland? is an essential read for anyone curious about the future of this frozen frontier and its place on the global stage.

By: Elizabeth Buchanan
Imprint: C Hurst & Co
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
ISBN: 9781805265481
ISBN 10: 1805265482
Publication Date: 01 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Elizabeth Buchanan PhD is a senior fellow with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. She co- founded the polar warfare programme at West Point and was head of research for the Royal Australian Navy. Her previous books are Russian Energy Strategy in the Asia-Pacific and Red Arctic: Russian Arctic Strategy under Putin.