Fighting for Ireland? is the first in-depth account of the evolution of the Irish Republican strategy. M. L. R. Smith demonstrates the tension in the movement between ideology and strategic realities regarding the use of force. Contrary to the movement's vigorous and assertive public face, this study uncovers an organization characterized more by a sense of chronic insecurity than by certainty and continuity. This updated paperback edition is essential reading for anyone who wants to disentangle the complex issues and motives behind IRA violence.