If you want to get in touch, email nosemonkey [at] gmail.com, or leave a comment.
This is a Wordpress-powered version of Europhobia, the award-nominated, widely quoted Blogger-powered blog founded back in March 2003. It is dedicated (mostly) to politics and international relations from an Anglo-European perspective, with a particular focus on the European Union. The name has been changed to EUtopia thanks to the old title causing untold confusion about its political stance for a good five years.
The politics here is critically pro-EU and centrist, though it’s not as simple as that makes it sound – the site is written by a former eurosceptic who can occasionally slip back that way, and who is more in favour of the idea of the EU than the current reality. A more detailed explanation of the site’s political stance can be found here, with a shorter version here.
Why EUtopia? a) Because of the European Union focus. b) Because a utopia is an ideal society, and it’s arguable that the EU is striving towards that. c) Thomas More’s Utopia was fictional – it doesn’t exist. Much like an ideal society – and much like the ideal of a perfect EU. d) I like bad puns.
Why “Nosemonkey”? No reason whatsoever – it’s merely a hang-on from my early days using the web, when *everyone* seemed to have a stupid, meaningless pseudonym.
Since 2008 the blog has begun to diversify into European history and culture, and the tagline shifted to “In search of a European identity” to reflect the new focus. Politics and current affairs still play a strong part, but the theme is now politics and Europe in their broadest possible sense. More explanation here.
For those who are interested, Nosemonkey is J Clive Matthews – a writer, editor and online content consultant whose work (mostly on film, travel, history and politics) can be found everywhere from the Times Literary Supplement to B2B magazines, openDemocracy to various books (some of which have even made second editions). His political knowledge comes from a couple of stints as researcher to a (then) member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee at the House of Commons, a short period working at the European Commission in Brussels, a postgrad degree in history, and an obsession with current affairs and international relations.
In 2008 he made the five-man shortlist for the inaugural UACES-Reuters Reporting Europe Award alongside the likes of the Europe Editors of the BBC and The Economist. Which was nice. More endorsements can be found on the testimonials page.
For more detailed information, check out his CV.
Appearing on BBC World News Today on BBC Four in the UK and BBC World News worldwide, 28th May 2009, discussing the 2009 European elections. Nosemonkey is available for Weddings, Christenings, Bar Mitzvahs, etc. etc. etc. (can juggle, will bring own balls, but clown outfit must be supplied by the hosts)
