Int. J. Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, Vol. 1, No. 4, 2013 341 Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Constructing an American fear culture from red scares to terrorism Geoffrey R. Skoll Criminal Justice Department, Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA E-mail: skollgr@buffalostate.edu Maximiliano E. Korstanje* Department of Economics, University of Palermo, Larrea 1079. 3 Floor, CP 1004, Buenos Aires, Argentina E-mail: mkorst@palermo.edu *Corresponding author 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; red scare; McCarthyism; capitalism; racism; communism; USA. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Skoll, G.R. and Korstanje, M.E. (2013) ‘Constructing an American fear culture from red scares to terrorism’, Int. J. Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp.341–364. Biographical notes: Geoffrey R. Skoll is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Buffalo State College, State University of New York. His research area includes terrorism and security, postmodernity, and cultural sociology. Recent publications include two books, Contemporary Criminology and Social Theory of Fear, both published by Palgrave Macmillan. Maximiliano E. Korstanje is an Associate Professor of University of Palermo and Editor in Chief of International Journal of Safety and Security in Tourism/Hospitality. His research area is risk perception and disaster-management. With more than 300 published papers and 15 books, he works as editorial board member on more than 20 tourism and disaster-related journals and international councils dedicated to the studies of risk.