Between autonomy and statehood: Institutional design and functions of Centres of Government in Greenland and The Faroe Islands
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Abstract
This article analyzes the institutional design and functioning of the Centers of Government (CoG) in Greenland and the Faroe Islands, autonomous territories within the Kingdom of Denmark. Using a comparative approach, the study explores seven analytical dimensions: legal framework, formal and informal functions, institutional location, human resources, and organizational structure. Findings reveal that both CoGs reflect the Danish politico-administrative tradition through professionalized structures, led by Permanent Secretaries, and complex functional organization. Greenland demonstrates greater normative flexibility, while the Faroese structure is more rigid yet holds broad competencies. Both offices transcend the traditional advisory role by performing strategic, administrative, and intergovernmental coordination functions. The article concludes that autonomy has fostered a hybrid institutional model, combining traits of central administration with features of sovereign statehood. This research offers a replicable methodology to study subnational centers of government in advanced autonomy contexts and contributes to understanding how institutional design shapes territorial governance capacity.
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