The durability of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in Northern Ireland rests upon the debilitating socioeconomic conditions experienced by a significant proportion of the Catholic population. The PIRA links the remedying of these conditions to independence from the British Government. The PIRA is not simply a terrorist from the British Government. The PIRA is not simply a terrorist movement in the accepted sense of the term. Its longevity and goals suggest that it is deeply rooted in the society in which it operates. For the many citizens frustrated by the conditions in which they live, the PIRA continues to be a symbol of hope for change. Successive British Governments have aimed at avoiding creating anything resembling a 'police state' in Northern Ireland, but the further the judicial system in Northern Ireland becomes removed from norms operating elsewhere in the United Kingdom, the more difficult it is to win support for the State's attempts to maintain law and order. Since 1972, when the army was at its most active in Northern Ireland, public opinion has, on balance, been favorable to its presence; however, the excesses of security forces have been a source of grievance in some of the Catholic ghettoes and a boost for recruitment to PIRA. It is unlikely that the activities of the PIRA will cease being supported by the Catholic population until living conditions and job opportunities change significantly. A total of 29 notes and references are listed. (Author abstract modified)