In 1979 James Begesen published: A Durkheimian Theory of "Witch-Hunts" with the Chinese Cultural Revolution of 1966-1969 as an Example in which he broke down main features of a witch-hunt as:
1. Comes from nowhere
2. Crimes against collective
3. Transgressions are often trivial or fabricated
4. Those who know the accused to be innocent are afraid to speak out