A brief account of territorial behaviour in animals

Abstract

Hitler called it Lebensraum. Some are of the opinion that it is the cause of all capitalistic evils, while others defend it as an essentially basic human right. The acquisition of private property and the passion for a place of one's own is at the root of many of our economic and political issues. It may come as a surprise to some that this is no passion which man has acquired as a result of his culture or society. As an instinct, territorial behaviour - the need to acquire and defend a place of one's own, is widespread amongst many animals.