>>I think that the more important contributing factor to shutting down the terrorism was that Northern Ireland got sick and tired of living in a terrorist state.

That's like getting sick and tired of a disease. Such thoughts are meaningless unless there's an available cure. No cure = hopelessness. Victor is agreeing with Baldwin who said that "the most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose." No jobs and a demonized enemy behind a fence and societal lionizing of those who strike a blow against the enemy (including those persecuting English) and there's your outlet for those with no hope. To make change, you need to start by a credible way up and out. Sure you can't hope to convert the psychopaths- but you can isolate them and remove their support structures.