Evolutionary Theory and The Political Left

Evolutionary theory and the political left have had a complicated relationship with one another. The majority of those on the left do not oppose evolution per se, but are critical of interpretations of evolutionary theory that, in their view, overemphasize the role of competition and ignore elements of co-operation in nature such as symbiosis.

Many important political figures on the left have never publicized their views on biology, and so their opinions of evolutionary theory are unknown. To some extent, Marxists are the exception. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels spoke favorably of evolutionary theory, arguing that it mirrored their view of the progress of human society by class struggle and revolutions. Most later Marxists agreed with them, but some - particularly those in the early Soviet Union - believed that evolutionary theory conflicted with their economic and social ideals. As a result, they came to support Lamarckism instead, which led to Lysenkoism and caused disastrous agricultural problems.

Among other groups on the political left, the most significant work related to evolutionary theory is Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution, a book authored by anarcho-communist Peter Kropotkin. Kropotkin argued that co-operation and mutual aid are as important in the evolution of the species as competition and mutual strife, if not more so.