It goes back and forth over time. Infiltrators build critical mass, takeover, then create exclusive leadership "club" inside inner sanctum at the top. Both sides use this method. In some cases it is a "good guy" club inside a "bad guy" club with none of general membership having a clue. Secret Society Secrecy protocols intentionally make it nearly impossible to figure out who is really in charge from the outside.
It goes back and forth over time. Infiltrators build critical mass, takeover, then create exclusive leadership "club" inside inner sanctum at the top. Both sides use this method. In some cases it is a "good guy" club inside a "bad guy" club with none of general membership having a clue. Secret Society Secrecy protocols intentionally make it nearly impossible to figure out who is really in charge from the outside.