What concept suggests that nations compete for resources similarly to the survival of the fittest?

The concept that suggests nations compete for resources in a manner akin to "survival of the fittest" is Social Darwinism. This term, derived from Charles Darwin's theories on evolution, was applied sociologically to justify the idea that the strongest nations would naturally dominate weaker ones through competition. In the context of international relations, Social Darwinism was often used to rationalize imperialism and expansionism, arguing that superior nations had a right to control inferior ones due to their perceived strength and superiority.

This ideology influenced various historical events, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fostering competitive national policies and justifying colonization efforts. It provided a lens through which economic, political, and military competition between nations could be understood as a natural order, much like the processes of natural selection in the animal kingdom.