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USMEC : US Military-Entertainment Complex from the Cold War to the War on Terror

Doctoral Training Grant Funding Information

This funding model includes a 36 month fully funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with the Research Council values. For 2025/6, this will be £20,780 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Home Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice. 

All applicants will receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status.

Application Closing Date:
Midday (UK Time) on Wednesday 16th April 2025 for a start date of the 1st September 2025.

How to Apply

To apply, please follow the below steps:

  1. Complete the BCU Online Application Form here: Social Sciences PhDs.
  2. Complete the Doctoral Studentship Proposal Form in full, ensuring that you quote the project ID. You will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement on the BCU online application form.
  3. Upload two references to your online application form (at least one of which must be an academic reference).
  4. Upload your qualification(s) for entry onto the research degree programme. This will be Bachelor/Master’s certificate(s) and transcript(s).
  5. International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification. Please see the list of English language qualifications accepted here. Please check the individual research degree course page for the required scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

To help support you to complete your application, please consult the frequently asked questions below:

If your question is not answered above and you need any further information, please use the contact details below: 

- For enquiries about the project content, please contact: Ryan.o’connor@bcu.ac.uk, Anthony.may@bcu.ac.uk and Euan.raffle@bcu.ac.uk 

- For enquiries about the application procedure, please contact: research.admissions@bcu.ac.uk

Project Title: USMEC : US Military-Entertainment Complex from the Cold War to the War on Terror

Project leads: Dr Ryan O’Connor, Dr Anthony May, Dr Euan Raffle 

Project ID: 44101741 

Project description: 

This research project examines how American popular culture, including movies, TV shows, and other media, intersects with U.S. military and foreign policy messaging from the Cold War to today. The PhD will investigate the relationship between entertainment media and how the public understands and accepts military actions and counterterrorism efforts.  

The study breaks new ground by looking at this topic from three important angles. First, it will examine how military officials, entertainment industry leaders, and political figures work together to shape popular culture. Second, it will analyse the resulting entertainment content and how different media types work together to convey messages. Third, it will study how audiences interpret and respond to this content over time.    

The research aims to understand several key questions:  

  • How do decision-makers use entertainment to make certain political views seem natural or acceptable?  
  • How do audiences process and react to these messages?  
  •  Can entertainment media actually influence people's political values and their support for military actions?    

Unlike previous studies that looked at individual movies or TV shows in isolation, it will examine how multiple forms of media work together in today's interconnected digital environment. It will also track how these influences develop over time, rather than just studying immediate reactions.  

This project will shed new light on how entertainment media shapes public understanding of military actions and foreign policy, while revealing the networks and strategies that connect the entertainment industry with military and political objectives. 

Anticipated findings and contribution to knowledge:

This PhD will provide groundbreaking insights into how the U.S. Military-Entertainment Complex (USMEC) operates and influences public opinion. The project will make significant theoretical and empirical contributions by examining both the "back-end" operations of the USMEC and its "front-end" effects on audiences.  

The research will map previously undocumented networks between military, political, and entertainment industry stakeholders, revealing how they collaborate to shape popular culture narratives. This will provide unprecedented understanding of the funding mechanisms and strategic decision-making processes within the USMEC.  

A key methodological innovation will be the project’s comprehensive approach to studying audience reception. Rather than examining isolated media artifacts, it will analyse how multiple forms of popular culture work together, influencing public perceptions of military action and state violence. This longitudinal analysis will reveal how these influences develop and persist over time.     

This research will fundamentally advance our understanding of how popular culture shapes political reality and public acceptance of military interventions, while providing concrete recommendations for policymakers and practical tools for public engagement with these critical issues. 

Person Specification:

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

  • Masters degree in relevant social science discipline  
  • Undergraduate degree (2:1 minimum) in relevant social science discipline  
  • Demonstrated research experience through Masters dissertation  
  • Excellent analytical and academic writing skills  

Desirable Criteria: 

  • Prior publications in peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings 
  • Experience presenting at academic conferences or workshops 
  • Previous research experience on individual or group projects 
  • Experience with advanced research methodologies (e.g., network analysis, surveys, or focus groups) 

International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification, such as International English Language Test System (IELTS) or equivalent with an overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0.