How were herbert spencers teories used to justify imperialism?

Herbert Spencer's theories, particularly his application of Darwinian concepts to society, were used to justify Imperialism through the idea of "survival of the fittest." He argued that stronger nations had a natural right to dominate weaker ones, suggesting that imperialism was a beneficial process for civilization's progression. This belief in the superiority of certain cultures reinforced a moral justification for colonial expansion, portraying it as a means of uplifting "lesser" societies. Consequently, Spencer's ideas contributed to a framework that rationalized the exploitation and subjugation of colonized peoples.