Ben M. Debney - The Oldest Trick in the Book: Panic-Driven Scapegoating in History and Recurring Patterns of Persecution

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If it is a truism of life that no one is an island and being is relational, this also holds absolutely true for the process of undertaking a research project like this one. If this research project exists, it does so in no small part thanks to the help and support provided by a variety of significant actors, for which I am eternally grateful. First and foremost, Kate MacDonald aided with critical issues in the methodological development of this text and provided what amounted in the end to informal supervision of development of the manuscript. If this study demonstrates any sort of meaningful methodological coherence and adequately signposts stages of the overall argument, then that is thanks to her influence and significant investment of time and energy in this project. All shortcomings on this count are mine alone.

Shelley Marshall and Annie Delaney were both vital sources of moral and collegial support; if I felt like I belonged in the community of research scholars, it was due in no small part to their efforts. I am extremely fortunate to have both in my corner. Nick Fischer, Tom Middlebrook and Scott Poynting also read drafts of work and offered critical feedback inclusive of invaluable insights into the topic areas under study as well as technical advice on academic writing. Brian Levack and Laura Stokes were both very helpful in getting my head around some of the finer points associated with the European Witch Hunts. Curt Cardwell was very helpful in getting my head around some of the finer points of NSC68 and its implications for the Cold War. Erich Goode, Chas Critcher, Jon Oplinger and Gershon Shafir were all very helpful in coming to terms with moral panics in general. Brendan McGloin passed on some exceptionally useful tidbits which appear in the text at various points.

Joshua Frank, Jeffrey St. Clair and Chris Graham were helpful in supporting my practise writing. Jason Moore and Simon Springer were both notable sources of positive encouragement and support, especially during the more difficult latter phases of this project; Jason in particular draws from a well of positivity that seems to know no end and is a singular pleasure to experience. Katherine Sylwester helped me to acquire rare primary sources on the Red Scares which were unavailable for shipping to Australia. Martin Howard helped me to acquire a Shepard Fairey/Alternative Tentacles/Powell Peralta collaboration skateboard deck from the UK on the same count, helping greatly to stay sane during the redrafting phase. Noam Chomsky provided crucial aid with the metaphor summarising the study; it would have been infinitely more difficult to tie the work together without his assistance. Thank you for that and for your intellectual contributions far more generally, Noam. Anyone who knows me knows the great esteem in which I have long held you and your work.

For more general academic help, collegiality and solidarity I would also like to thank Afreen Huq, Alex Waters, Amelia Johns, Andrea Gallant, Ashleigh Haw, Barry Carr, Beryl Langer, Blair Taylor, Bonnie Teece, Christopher Cox, Christian Parenti, Colm McNaughton, Dan Boscov-Ellen, Gareth Bryant, George Morgan, Hayley Smith, Ida Harboe, Inger Mewburn, Irma Allen, Andreas Malm and everyone associated with the Political Ecology of the Far-Right Conference at Lund University, Jack Roberts, Justin McBrien, Kate Roberts, Katy Maloney, Linda Jones, Melody McCormack, Michael Hall, Michele Lobo, Nick Butler, Paul Pul, Paula de Angelis, Philip Quadrio, Robyn Hunter, Ron Baird, Ronan Lee, Rosaria Burchelli, Samson Martin, Sonia Muoz Llort, S-oren Kemp and Yassir Morsi. I must extend particular thanks and gratitude to Drew Cottle and Brett Bowden in the History department at Western Sydney University for the opportunity to build on the research contained herein in agreeing to supervise my doctoral candidature; I consider myself exceptionally fortunate on this count.