Another problem is that people generally associate with people who agree with them. Thus, the beliefs of that small group (comparatively speaking) is projected to be the beliefs of the whole population -- and the small group can get a very, very rude awakening. For example, the Charles Manson bunch thought that the killings would start a "Race War" and even Kim Il Sung in 1967 thought that the people of South Korea would rise up in rebellion if given the chance -- neither happened.