&gt; Marx said that the fundamental driver of human history was the conflict between classes. Darwin believed it was the evolutionary struggle for survival. Others have claimed that the most important force for change is the clash of civilisations, the rise of political ideologies and religious movements, or advances in technology. A growing number of thinkers, however, are starting to recognise that empathy is an essential missing ingredient in these traditional narratives.<p>This is misstated; students of evolution believe that it is precisely the evolutionary struggle for survival that underlies all else--namely the clash of civilizations, rise of political ideologies, advances in technology, etc., AND empathy.