Researcher ORCID Identifier

0009-0005-2298-771X

Graduation Year

2026

Date of Submission

4-2026

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

International Relations

Reader 1

Professor Jordan Branch

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Abstract

Annexing Greenland, making Canada the 51st State – what’s it all about? Critical minerals are often treated as a geological and national security problem that can be fixed through strength and coercion. This thesis argues that, in the Arctic, governance structures are what determine whether critical mineral wealth becomes strategically useful. Through a comparative qualitative analysis of Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and the Nordic countries, it examines what drives variation in critical mineral extraction and supply-chain integration across Arctic states, an especially relevant topic as Western states seek to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains. The analysis applies four variables across the cases: sovereignty and access, legitimacy and consent, infrastructure and capacity, and geopolitical alignment. The findings show that centralized governance can accelerate extraction, but often at the expense of Indigenous Peoples; that strong Indigenous partnerships and participation in mining is often beneficial to critical mineral output; and that infrastructure and energy capacity are key governance constraints on development. Ultimately, for the United States and its allies, critical mineral security depends on building the governance conditions necessary to turn mineral potential into reliable supply.

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