Dark Forest Theory is probably wrong. In-universe, the series unknowingly undermines it with communication tech that can transmit instantaneously. That would take away the assumption that civilizations can't effectively communicate over interstellar distances and build trust.

In reality, it's something of an extension of the "every individual for themselves" mindset of evolution--something White Supremacists have loved. Kin Selection Theory does away with that. There is a basis for building trust and working together within evolution. The precursor ideas were even done in Peter Kropotkin's "Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution" over a century ago. Kin Selection Theory put a mathematical foundation on it.

I like the book series as literature, and the Netflix series has been OK so far (not great, but OK). Liu Cixin himself, however, has some really shitty opinions that come through the text.