Michael E. Cox (born March 1947) is a British academic and international relations scholar.

As a writer, Cox has authored many books on international politics, the Cold War, US foreign policy and the behaviour of superpowers.

Professor Cox is a well-known speaker on global affairs and has lectured in the United States, Australia, Asia, and in the EU.

He has spoken on a range of contemporary global issues, though most recently he has focused on the role of the United States in the international system, the rise of Asia, and whether or not the world is now in the midst of a major power shift.

In 2003, he was chair of the United States Discussion Group at the Royal Institute of International Affairs.