Struggle for existence

Nature

Response by living creatures, in the form of novel or intensified efforts, to their environmental difficulties and limitations. This process is characterized by continuing, and often painful or fatal, clashes both between the living creatures and with their environments. The struggle is aggravated by the tendency of any species towards over-population, by the dependency of members of the population on one another and on other species, and by unpredictable changes in the environment. The struggle is thus not limited to intraspecific competition. It takes place between both fellow-organisms of the same species and between organisms of very different natures.

Background

The concept of the "struggle for existence" gained prominence in the 19th century, notably through Charles Darwin’s observations of competition among species in "On the Origin of Species" (1859). Its significance expanded as biologists, sociologists, and economists recognized its pervasive influence on population dynamics, resource allocation, and social structures worldwide. Over time, the struggle for existence has been acknowledged as a fundamental driver of both ecological balance and persistent human conflict.

Incidence

The struggle for existence manifests globally as individuals and communities compete for limited resources such as food, water, shelter, and employment. This competition is intensified by population growth, environmental degradation, and economic inequality, leading to widespread poverty, malnutrition, and social unrest. The phenomenon affects both urban and rural populations, with marginalized groups often facing the harshest consequences, making it a persistent and significant challenge across continents.
In 2022, severe drought in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia, forced millions into acute food insecurity. Families were compelled to migrate in search of sustenance, highlighting the ongoing struggle for existence amid environmental and economic pressures.

Claim

It is a mistake to consider that the struggle is necessarily directly competitive, sanguinary, and results in the immediate elimination of one of the parties. It may often be accurately described as an endeavour after well-being. In face of difficulties and limitations, one kind of organism may intensify competition, another may exhibit more elaborate parental care or greater mutual aid, another may adopt some form of parasitism and another may change its habitat. Half-understood technical concepts from biology have frequently encouraged inappropriate conclusions. The universal struggle in nature has been erroneously used to vindicate internecine competition and warfare among men.