EQ,
Yes, it does inspire. First keep in mind that the WWI was largely inspired by the Civil War. So thank Lincoln for being the father of trench warfare, indirectly anyway. WWII at least would likely have unified all of North America against Hitler, but then, there would not likely have been a Hitler without the US Civil War. That's because only the sanctions against Germany after WWI made the popularity of someone like Hitler possible.
The Bosnian problems of the 90s are a good example of how nationhood insulates a continent. Bosnia was only a problem for the Bosnians. The Germans, French, etc were practically uneffected. Likewise with the fiscal crises in Europe today. The prudent countries are insulated from the spendthrift ways of Greece, Portugal, and Italy. Minnesota dang sure isn't insulated against the spendthrift ways of DC. And given the US debt load, more than a few economists are p,ausibly arguing that the US is innworse shape than Greece.