Title: Constructing an American fear culture from red scares to terrorism

Authors: Geoffrey R. Skoll; Maximiliano E. Korstanje

Addresses: Criminal Justice Department, Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA ' Department of Economics, University of Palermo, Larrea 1079. 3 Floor, CP 1004, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract: Building on the work of social analysts who have identified the emerging culture of fear in the USA, this article argues that the current fears about terrorism derive from deliberate campaigns by the world capitalism's elites. It traces the history of political scares since the late 19th century to show an evolution from red scares to terrorism. While acknowledging the complexities of cultural constructions, the obsession with terrorism is shown as an outgrowth and offspring of earlier, anti-communist hysterias in the USA.

Keywords: terrorism; fear culture; red scare; McCarthyism; capitalism; racism; communism; USA; United States; political scares; cultural constructions; anti-communist hysteria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2013.057302

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2013 Vol.1 No.4, pp.341 - 364

Received: 11 Sep 2012
Accepted: 14 Oct 2012
Published online: 31 Mar 2014 *

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