July 21, 2008
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
In the US, the Founding Fathers occupy a near-sacred place in the national myth and national consciousness – a glorious pantheon of visionaries who helped guide the divided States to their destiny as a greater whole. In Europe, bar in … Continue reading
July 18, 2008
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Yesterday I went to my uncle’s funeral. 88 years old and alert and amusing until the day he died. I never knew that he was in the RAF during the war – back-end technical support, I believe. One of the … Continue reading
July 16, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Tories and the EU, trade talks, Russian threats
Three things that have caught my eye this morning, in ascending order of importance: 1) Following a fun article on the impact a Tory victory in the next UK general election may have on the EU in this week’s Economist, … Continue reading
July 14, 2008
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Now this is sad news indeed. One of the leading lights of the Solidarity movement – undeniably one of the most important of the late 20th century – and still active in standing up for what’s right (just last year … Continue reading
July 14, 2008
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
I’ve been getting bored with politics. It’s time to diversify. Here’s the plan… Continue reading
June 14, 2008
by Nosemonkey
8 Comments
After the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, fresh visions of the EU are bound to be suggested. Here’s a start at mine… Continue reading
February 26, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on A cultural quickie
If you haven’t seen these already, and are based in the UK, watch today via the really rather fun BBC iPlayer: Jonathan Meades: Magnetic North – yet another top-notch contribution from the almost always fascinating Meades, this time looking at … Continue reading
February 15, 2008
by Nosemonkey
13 Comments
With Kosovo having just declared a controversial independence, it’s time for a look at some of Europe’s other wannabe countries… Continue reading
September 4, 2007
by Nosemonkey
9 Comments
Not having particularly kept up with Scottish politics after the ’45, and despite having close Scottish relations involved on the fringe of the Scottish political scene, the niceties of the devolution settlement have largely eluded me. I’ve only made it … Continue reading
April 23, 2007
by Nosemonkey
20 Comments
One of my most unrelenting (and occasionally nutty) eurosceptic visitors popped up the other day reckoning that I must hate St George’s Day because I’m pro-EU (yes, he’s one of those who rarely reads/understands what I write, so has me … Continue reading
January 31, 2007
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
I’m still mired in an intensive real-world project (all revolving around clarifying the insane complexity of post-Soviet Russian politics, which anyone who’s looked into it even briefly will know is a tough – if fascinating – gig…), so continued light … Continue reading
February 23, 2006
by Nosemonkey
42 Comments
A quickie to try and clear up a confusion I’ve seen on a few blogs around the place who seem to think that Magna Carta guarantees British (well, English) people certain freedoms: The Magna Carta “rights” thing is a complete … Continue reading
February 16, 2006
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Talk Politics on top form once again, highlighting the details of deliberately confused legislation: “The provisions which appeared in the first draft of the Bill, when glorification was a separate offence, which limit its applicability to terrorist attacks in the … Continue reading
February 15, 2005
by Nosemonkey
24 Comments
Via Political Theory Daily Review, a pdf article providing an interesting (if flawed) overview of the development of the concepts of “sovereignty” and “the nation state” which EU-sceptics often seem to get so worked up about, as well as the … Continue reading