The exchange distinguishes the causes of war from the forces that make an existing conflict harder to end. States do not necessarily begin fighting because their ideologies differ. Once war starts, hostile ideologies can magnify the original disagreement and make the conflict larger and harder to stop. The point is a caution against treating ideology as a single cause while overlooking its effect on escalation and war termination.
Notable Point · 1:50:44-1:51:09
How ideology can deepen a war
A short discussion separates ideology as an initial cause from its power to enlarge a conflict and obstruct peace once fighting has begun.