territoriumdrift

20:08 Oct 8, 2010 

“Hunger for territory” seems too descriptive. The original would have said, “honger voor territorium” if that were meant. It says ‘drift,’ meaning ‘drive.’

19:54 Oct 8, 2010 

I conclude from the context that a number of countries want to greedily lay their hands on as large an Arctic area as possible?

19:21 Oct 8, 2010 

Only Dr. Lofthouse and Barend van Zadelhoff had answered when I made the comment below.

19:16 Oct 8, 2010 

As the answers by Dr. Lofthouse and Barend van Zadelhoff show, the translation depends on further context. If the Dutch term 'drift' is intended to mean something like urge, desire or impulse (as Van Dale renders it), then Barend's answer would be correct. If 'drift' (in Dutch) refers to movement (Van Dale: a ship adrift, the ice is drifting), then Dr. Lofthouse's answer would fit the bill. It all depends on the wider context. The given passage alone is inconclusive. In the latter case, by the way, 'territorial shift' might also be an option.