Final answer:
Witch-hunts were used for economic and political gain by targeting individuals for nonconformity or as scapegoats for misfortune, with the Salem witch trials being a prime example. Heavy gender biases resulted in mostly women being accused. Similar to the demonization in Stalin's USSR, opponents were labeled as 'enemies of the people' to consolidate power.
Step-by-step explanation:
Witch-hunts were not only a response to superstitions of the time but were also used as tools for economic, political gain, and personal vendettas. In periods of adversity like the Little Ice Age, accusations of witchcraft often targeted individuals based on their nonconformity or because they were seen as a threat to economic stability. Persecutions could therefore serve the dual purpose of scapegoating to explain misfortunes and removing obstacles to personal or communal ambitions.
In the Salem witch trials, it was mostly women who were accused, this reflects the gender biases of the period as women were believed to be more susceptible to the Devil due to their 'weaker' nature. Additionally, the aftermath of warfare such as the Northeastern Mourning Wars, where captives could be ritually executed or adopted, also exhibited a form of societal conflict resolution, although not directly related to witch-hunts but indicative of the period's harsh justice methods.
The political mechanism of demonization was evident in Stalin's USSR where opponents such as alleged 'traitors' were labeled as 'enemies of the people' and,'saboteurs'. This campaign was driven not solely by the need to suppress real opposition but also to consolidate Stalin's absolute power by instilling fear and aligning the population against a common 'enemy'.