For your next assignment, consider the following question about the poem: What
connections can be made between imperialism, social Darwinism and racism?

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, imperialism was often rationalized through the lens of Social Darwinism, a theory suggesting that certain human societies were biologically superior to others. This ideology not only justified colonial expansion but also promulgated the idea that “survival of the fittest” applied to nations and races, leading to a hierarchy that deemed non-Western societies inferior. This connection fueled racist attitudes, legitimizing oppression and exploitation as a natural order of evolution.

In practice, these interconnected concepts had profound implications. Colonizers believed they were entitled to dominate and civilize others, often resulting in the dismissal of local cultures and traditions. The consequences were devastating—entire populations faced cultural erasure, violence, and systemic discrimination, as imperial powers imposed their perceived superiority over the so-called ‘lesser’ races, illustrating a dark chapter of human history driven by misguided beliefs.