Invented story about Republican causes conflict (8)
I believe the answer is:
friction
'conflict' is the definition.
(friction is a kind of conflict)
'invented story about republican' is the wordplay.
'invented story' becomes 'fiction' (I've seen this before).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'republican' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'fiction' placed around 'r' is 'FRICTION'.
'causes' is the link.
(Other definitions for friction that I've seen before include "State of conflict, clash" , "A rubbing between two surfaces" , "animosity" , "Disagreement" , "Conflict between people who rub each other the wrong way" .)