The belief that war was "almost bound to come eventually" illustrates the concept of the last move in the prisoner's dilemma, during which players come to believe they are playing the game for the last time.

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The concept of the last move in the prisoner's dilemma refers to the final round of the game, in which players no longer have an incentive to cooperate because they believe there will be no future consequences for their actions. This can lead to a breakdown in cooperation and a "defection" strategy, which can result in a less optimal outcome for both players, such as war breaking out. The statement given in the question suggests that the belief in an inevitable war is akin to the last move in the prisoner's dilemma, as both involve a sense of finality and a lack of incentives to cooperate.

The Belief That War Was "Almost Bound to Come Eventually