During the violent height of "Arab Spring" revolts, I did see distinct interviews with leaders thereof operating in small rooms coordinating enough like minded

During the violent height of "Arab Spring" revolts, I did see distinct interviews with leaders thereof operating in small rooms coordinating enough like minded people to succeed. Names, of course, were not given; in a time of point-and-click military firepower, leaders function on a need-to-know basis. A decade or so back (forgetting the country at the moment) there was a high-profile spontaneous uprising which overthrew the government. A key moment during the 3-day rally/occupation involved a bulldozer (someone jog my memory). The whole thing seemed as you describe, modern communication having taken away the need of a leader with the participants informing themselves and coordinating spontaneously. Except...it wasn't. It was the result of an passionate 10-year plan by one person to choreograph the whole thing, right down to persuading a group of police to resist protestors for a given period then "spontaneously" change loyalties, along with timing of aforementioned bulldozer bashing down doors. Leaders may not stand out at the front of their troops, guiding them into battle. Leaders may (especially today) hide in anonymous rooms, remotely directing agitators to persuade mob dynamics a la psychological warfare. That you can't name one leader therein doesn't mean there aren't any nor have plans been in the making for years.