In addition to the threat of being overthrown by their elite supporters, dictators also face the threat of being ousted by the masses. Though mass-led overthrows occur less often than do elite-driven leadership transitions, the occurrence of bottom-up revolts indicates that authoritarian leaders cannot ignore widespread grievances that may strip them of their legitimacy. Perhaps more importantly, popular discontent puts pressure on other regime elites. These elite insiders must maintain the backing of at least some segments of the populace to ensure not only the regime’s survival but also their own survival. When mass-led movements manage to bring down an authoritarian leader, they frequently take down the regime with him.