What was the main idea promoted by Social Darwinism in the context of imperialism?

The main idea promoted by Social Darwinism, particularly in the context of imperialism, is that stronger nations had the right to dominate weaker ones. Social Darwinism applied the concept of "survival of the fittest" from Charles Darwin's theories of evolution to human societies and nations. Proponents believed that just as species compete for resources in nature, so too do nations. This perspective suggested that more advanced or industrialized nations were superior and therefore had justifiable reasons to exert control over less developed or weaker nations.

This ideology was often used to rationalize imperial expansion and colonialism, arguing that it was not only permissible but also a natural order of civilization. Advocates of Social Darwinism believed that imperialism was a mechanism through which "advanced" nations could "civilize" or uplift "backward" societies, reinforcing the idea that domination was a form of benevolence. This perspective deeply influenced the justification for European and American imperialistic ventures during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.