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How did social Darwinism and eugenics influence support for imperialism in Europe?

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Map of North America in 1763 using color coding to show colonial territories: the 13 American colonies in red along the Atlantic coast, other British territory in orange across much of present-day Canada, Spanish territory in purple covering most of the southern and western regions, Russian territory in green in the northwest, and large areas of unclaimed land in white. Major bodies of water such as the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay are labeled. — Western colonialism North America during the colonial period.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, social Darwinism and eugenics provided a pseudoscientific framework that justified European imperialism and colonial expansion. By misapplying Charles Darwin’s theories of natural selection to human societies, proponents argued that life was a struggle for existence governed by the "survival of the fittest."123

This ideology influenced support for imperialism in several ways:

Moral Rationalization: Imperialism was framed as a "civilizing mission," where European powers claimed a duty to "civilize" and Christianize populations they deemed inferior. This reinforced a sense of inherent racial and cultural superiority, particularly regarding Anglo-Saxon or Aryan peoples.41
Political Legitimacy: Nations used these theories to demonstrate their status as great powers. Expansion was viewed as a necessary competition; if a country did not participate in the "scramble" for colonies, it risked falling behind and sinking into obscurity.24
Hereditarian Ideology: Figures like Francis Galton advocated for eugenics to ensure that "more suitable" races would prevail over others, providing a "scientific" justification for colonial dominance and the subjugation of Indigenous peoples.35

Ultimately, these beliefs eroded the collective will to peace by fostering a mood of fatalism and bellicosity, framing global politics as a zero-sum struggle between races and nations.2