Its not a 'small resistor' ( when taking about leakage). A small,resistance would mean it leaks like hell... Its a biiiiiig resistance...
![Wink ;)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xwink.gif.pagespeed.ic.cldandycH0.png)
Anyway, it can be summed up very simple.
We know like charges repel each other.
A charge creates a field.
So, place one electron more on the left plate of the capacitor than on the right plate.
The field emanating from the left plate is now stronger than the one from the right plate. This will push an electron off the plate at the right.
Keep placing electrons left plate and electrons on the right plate will be pushed off.
Field strength keeps increasing. We perceive this as voltage.
Since electrons flow in and out of the capacitor we say 'current flows through'.
But that is incorrect. (Nitpicking) as the electrons cant cross the dieelectric.
Its that simple. No need for semesters of maxwell
A really interesting question would be : what amount of electrons do i need to place on the left plate so that the right plate is completely void of electrons ? For a given plate size and plate distance , what voltage would that yield ? Anyone care to work that out ?