In the iconic book “Why Nations go to War” author John G. Stoessinger, concludes that decisions to go to war are rooted in the ego of national leaders.
This results in a group-think in which only affirming voices are heard and anyone who questions the course of action is marginalized.
I first read this book decades ago, in an undergraduate political science class, and was fascinated by Stoessinger’s account of the mis-communication and ego-trips that led to WWI. I can’t help but remember Stoessinger’s thesis in the light of today’s news.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8523429-why-nations-go-to-war