While working on this project, I have received the support of many individuals
and institutions across several countries. Over the years that we have known
each other, Ute Frevert has taught me more than anyone else about history, and
her model has always inspired me as a scholar. At Yale University, where this project
was first conceived, she, as well as John Merriman and Jay Winter, provided
countless invaluable comments and suggestions on the manuscript. Among
the Yale faculty and staff, I thank Laura Engelstein, Robert Harms, Christopher
Miller, Mridu Rai, and Marcy Kaufman. Jennifer Boittin pointed me in the right
direction at the beginning of this project. Mara Caden, Ranin Kazemi, Carmen
Kordick, Meghan Lynch, Anja Manthey, and Nick Rutter have all read chapters
and have given me numerous helpful suggestions. A special thanks goes to Sarah
Cameron, Haydon Cherry, Sam Foster, and Dirk B?nker, each of whom has
read either all or most of this work and has given me crucial feedback and many
important ideas. The final result of this study is much better because of their
comments.