Why the end-of-history idea survived the 1990s

Why did experienced people believe in the end of history, and why do some retain the belief?

The 1990s unipolar moment made Western dominance look permanent, while ego and the comfort of believing war was controllable reinforced the idea.

The collapse of the Soviet Union created an unusual unipolar moment in which no plausible coalition appeared able to challenge the United States directly. That material dominance encouraged political and intellectual elites to treat their own system as the endpoint of historical development. The belief was also emotionally attractive because it suggested future wars would occur only by choice and under Western control. Leaders formed in that optimistic era may therefore resist evidence that strategic competition has returned.