The authors evaluate the ability of four theoretical approaches to account for the occurrence and severity of group rebellion in the 1980s. These explanations for rebellion are state responses and capabilities, relative deprivation, diffusion, and rational actor. Results indicate that relative deprivation and rational actor explanations were most important in accounting for the occurrence of group rebellion. On the other hand, state responses and capabilities and relative deprivation were the best explanations for the level of group rebellion.