favoured a compromise with Protestant marchers but the media is informed of the community's "single ardent opinion." Such "vociferous machine politics" ropes people into "a notion of a consistent community, beleaguered and at odds with the rest of the world, or it shuts them up."
He also shows that the Catholic community contains diverse views, including sympathy with the Provos. He examines "punishment" beatings which affirm a legitimate policing role to the IRA - generating "an impression of a coherent republican community," It is no easy thing for a Catholic in West Belfast to reject such beatings as it implies support for the RUC which means "coming dangerously close to declaring yourself a potential informer."
It's a sophisticated, sceptical, richly incisive and highly readable canter through the key writings on the Provos and a gripping personal indictment. It's vital reading for those who should know their enemy, as well as friends who should know better. Required reading during the Referendum campaign.

Gary Kent