Alliances can join states whose interests remain in conflict. The Holy Alliance is offered as an example of cooperation weakened by hostility among its members. The comparison with NATO adds a qualification: disagreements inside an alliance need not prevent cooperation. A sufficiently large shared threat can persuade members to set their disputes aside.
Notable Point · 53:59-54:53
Shared threats and hostile allies
Internal hostility can persist inside an alliance, while a larger common threat can keep its members cooperating.