Mid tier alliances have always depended on a few "shepherds" to keep the sheep safe from the wolves. Without those shepherds to look after the flock the wolves run amok, the sheep are killed (or at least have no fun) and (many of them) never come back.
Having said that, I don't really expect the wolves to go back to being shepherds but we should do our best to prevent those few shepherds that remain from becoming wolves.
Ok - I've flogged that metaphor to death.