In many ways, this book represents a team effort. Without the support, prodding, and encouragement of my family, friends, and mentors, I would never have been able to undertake and complete this project. While I am in the debt of many, there are some who deserve particular thanks. The Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison trained me well. My graduate school advisor and mentor, Jon Pevehouse, helped me take a seedling of an idea and form it into a large research agenda. His guidance on this project taught me how to think like a political scientist, and his patience, encouragement, and friendship were invaluable. My other mentors at UW, particularly Lisa Martin, Scott Straus, Helen Kinsella, and Mark Copelovitch, were all instrumental in my development as a scholar, as were my graduate student colleagues. Tricia Olsen deserves a special round of thanks for always supplying ready advice, empathy, and friendship. My colleagues at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have provided tremendous insight and encouragement as I worked to complete this manuscript. David Forsythe, Alice Kang, Ari Kohen, Patrice McMahon, Ross Miller, Dona-Gene Mitchell, Beth Theiss-Morse, Mike Wagner, Sergio Wals, and Tyler White have not only read drafts and provided feedback on my work, but they also have helped to guide me in the process of producing my first book manuscript and supported me in my first years in a faculty position.