One of the benefits of focusing on grievances in explaining protest and rebellion is that it draws attention to the importance of the quality of governance. If grievances are omnipresent and organization and opportunity are really all that count, then there can be few policy implications. If grievances are ubiquitous, the case is weak for institutional reforms that might make governance more responsive or alleviate deprivation. Rulers might well conclude that repression is their only means of averting rebellion. In reality, however, grievances sometimes inspire rebellions and good governance helps to forestall them.