But what about excessive or misguided patriotism? There have been wars that were caused by excessive patriotism, but these have always been the exception rather than the rule. Most aggressive wars have been motivated, not by excessive love of country, but rather by a profoundly unpatriotic devotion to an ideology, a barbaric(野蛮的)form of religion, or an excessive and misguided pursuit of liberty, equality or civilization.
    The wars of imperialism and conquest were not primarily motivated by patriotism. In fact, it was true patriots, who were the most outspoken and effective opponents of imperialism. British imperialism was motivated by a combination of racism and a zeal for the virtues of 'civilization.'