Tom Mann, R. S. Ross and Evolutionary Socialism in Broken Hill, 1902-1912: Alternative Social Darwinism in the Australian Labour Movement

Abstract

'Social Darwinism' generally takes up some space in books on late nineteenth and early twentieth century European and American (but little, to date, on Australian) social and intellectual history.l These discussions usually look at certain well known late Victorians (Spencer, Kidd, etc.)2 who are remembered for their evolutionary arguments in favour of a competitive laissez faire type of social organisation. A society so organised, it was claimed, would most likely ensure material advancement, since it would be most in line with 'human nature as science had discovered this to be. But Darwin's theories, as applied to human society, were interpreted in other ways as well. This article will look at some alternative interpretations put forward by socialist authors. Some examples of this kind of writing in British and American socialist works widely read in Australia around the turn of the century will be examined firstly, and this will be followed by a more detailed case study of the response to these ideas in Broken Hill ? a community notable for its strongly-working class character and for its important place in the Australian labour movement. It will be argued, essentially, that not only is there evidence for considerable interest in evolution theory generally among Australian working people during the period examined, but also that socialist interpretations of Darwin have a significant place in the intellectual side of the Australian labour movement.