ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses recent constitution-making efforts in the North Atlantic countries Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, arguing that a colonial relationship to Denmark is an important part of constitutional discussion in all three countries. Greenland and the Faroe Islands – both autonomous parts of the Danish state – have constitution-making as a part of their independence drives. Iceland has been an independent republic since 1944, and the colonial aspects of its constitutional efforts tend to be overlooked. The chapter concludes that since one of the main complaints about Iceland’s constitution is its pedigree – it was developed from the constitution given to Icelanders by the Danish King in the nineteenth century – Iceland’s colonial relationship to Denmark plays a role that must be made explicit. It is a widely shared view in Iceland that a new constitution is a final step to sovereignty – not yet taken. Therefore, the constitution must also be entirely rewritten, not just amended.
