Thomas Cobb

Dr. Thomas Cobb is a Lecturer in International Relations at Coventry University's College of the Arts and Society. He specializes in analyzing intersections between American cultural mores, foreign policy, and diplomatic practices, particularly during the War on Terror era. His teaching includes modules on Critical Thinking, Diplomacy, and the International System.

Research Focus: Cobb investigates how American cinema functions as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy, emphasizing ideological diversity in soft power narratives. His work applies Walter Russell Mead's 'kaleidoscope' theory to explore Jacksonian, Jeffersonian, and Wilsonian foreign policy tropes in popular culture.

Publications: He authored the 2020 monograph American Cinema and Cultural Diplomacy: The Fragmented Kaleidoscope (Palgrave Macmillan) and has published articles on Jacksonian identity in the Trump era, cinematic representations of U.S.-Russian relations, and electoral system critiques. He currently coordinates an edited collection on U.S. presidents' regional identities.

External Engagement: Cobb presented at the University of Helsinki's 2022 'Maple Leaf and Eagle Conference' and the 2021 Southwest Popular Culture Association conference. He guest-edited the 'Hollywood in the Age of Trump' series for US Studies Online.