Sean Jacobs

Sean Jacobs is a Professor of International Affairs and Director of the Julien J. Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs at The New School's Schools of Public Engagement. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, he holds a PhD in Politics from Birkbeck College, University of London (2004), alongside multiple advanced degrees from institutions in South Africa and the U.S. His research focuses on African politics, media studies, and postcolonial theory, with a particular emphasis on South Africa's democratic transition and global media dynamics. Jacobs is also the founder and publisher of Africa Is a Country, a critical platform for African discourse.

Professional affiliations include board memberships with the Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity, Radical Books Collective, and the African Studies Association. He has received prestigious fellowships such as the Fulbright and Shuttleworth. His teaching spans courses on media, global politics, and sports in international affairs.

Jacobs' publications critically examine post-apartheid South Africa, media's role in democracy, and transnational African identities. His work bridges academic rigor with public scholarship, addressing themes like xenophobia, sports diplomacy, and digital media's transformative impact on African narratives.