"Revolutionary Communism" was seen as a transnational and international movement in very much the same way as "militant Islamism", with the same potential to move about and in any part of the world and in any individual. More so than Islamism in fact.

There was an element of truth in that - but the reality tended to be much more one of local movements or governments pursuing nationalistic objectives. The commitment to "international revolutionary Communism" tended to be pretty subsidiary. Lip service might be paid to the notion of a worldwide International, but for the big players the reality was more pragmatic and local.

Much the same is true today in respect of our current "boogey men".