How Denmark perceives the Chinese presence in Greenland. A constructivist analysis of the publications and reactions of the Danish government in relation to Chinese presence in Greenland

Spadetto, Vanessa

4. term

Development and International Relations, Master

2021

2021-05-27

The thesis questions the Danish perceptions towards Chinese presence in Greenland at the light of Denmark's reactions to Chinese companies’ offers to invest in Greenland. Indeed, it appears that the Danish government intervened to prevent Chinese companies from winning a bid in Greenland twice, in 2016 and in 2018. The behaviour of the Danish government seems at least enigmatic, as Denmark wishes to strengthen its economic partnership with China and has encouraged Greenland to seek foreign investments. The thesis thus employ the securitization theory jointly with constructivism as theoretical framework to analyse Danish concerns over Chinese involvement in Greenland and reveals the connection between Denmark’s stance towards Chinese interest in Greenland and its perception of China more in general. Indeed, through the content analysis of the Intelligence Risk Assessments, the research could investigate whether the “China threat” fear played a role in the Danish perceptions and reactions to the Chinese interest in Greenland. Ultimately, the “China threat” narrative seems to have been propagated by the United States, which has initiated a securitization act towards China’s ambition in the Arctic and has tried to persuade its Arctic allies that their national strategic interests are threatened.

Danish government ; Greenland ; Chinese investments ; China threat fear ; Securitization in the Arctic ; Arctic policy

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