It seems to be the case that radical leftists believe that the majority of people actually support them and their goals, but that they are too intimidated by the regime to speak up. And if the radical leftists pave the way by bravely attacking the tools of the regime, the oppressed people will rise up in glorious revolution against the regime.
I have a relative who supports the extreme left--this is what this relative says. I've seen the belief expressed in other places, as well.
After all, nobody argues politically on Facebook anymore, so that must mean everybody’s gone over to the leftist side, right?