The Argument For: Is History Marching Towards Progress?

The pitch, ‘Is History marching towards “progress”’, is a deeply interesting concept as it delves into whether or not the human race is headed in the right direction. This, of course, gives me some sort of undeserved power – who am I to decide or even comment on the entire human race? This brings me onto one of my overarching points: no singular person can speak for everyone, and it is for that exact reason that we will never be able to generalise whether humankind definitely is or isn’t going in the right direction. Despite this, I will still argue that we are moving in a positive direction due to the overall social advancements that we have made and continue to make. These, in turn, have a knock-on effect on politics and even the economy. With these factors taken into consideration, I think it is reasonable to argue that history is marching towards progress.

When approaching this question, I think it is key to hold a moral relativist stance – one which rejects the idea of universal truths, claiming instead that values and judgements arise from cultural norms and personal beliefs. “Progress” is not a tangible concept; it relies on someone’s beliefs or culture to assess whether growth is actually occurring. This takes shape differently in different cultures. For example, “progress” in a capitalist society might be judged by economic growth, whereas in a communist society it could be measured by the extent of collective ownership. It is important to address such differences in “progress measurement” because the prompt clearly has no singular answer, regardless of one’s stance.

In a way, I now veer slightly towards the moral objectivist side of the spectrum, as I do believe that every individual has an inherent want for peace, liberation, and equality. I appreciate that in this essay I neglect the economic side of “progress” – what I would assume to be acceptable living standards for all – but I feel this is a dubious route for concluding a question that relies so heavily on personal experience and belief. My plan is instead to look back at how, despite factors that may disrupt it, people always find their way to liberation. This narrative of focusing on the history of liberation rather than oppression could be criticised, but taking things positively and seeing history through an optimistic lens is, I think, important when trying to evaluate the future of humankind.

It is at this point where I should probably start explaining my reasoning for why I think history is marching towards progress. The most convincing instance for me is the Civil Rights Movement, where figures like John Hope Franklin contributed not only through protest but through scholarship and advocacy, at a time when racism still dominated much of American society. Franklin’s work From Slavery to Freedom helped document and legitimise the long fight for racial equality, providing the movement with historical depth and moral force. The length and persistence of this struggle validate my argument: despite inevitable setbacks, major improvements were made to racial equality, and this continues today. Even in the present, movements advocating for racial justice (such as BLM), gender equality, and LGBTQ+ rights reflect a growing global awareness of freedom and human dignity. This suggests that, as a species, we are marching towards progress.

If I were to delve into the political sector, there are also examples of a growing global unification for the sake of humanity. I would term this “progress”, as it assumes a certain level of peace and détente despite ongoing conflicts. By October 2024 the Ottawa Treaty had been signed by 164 countries, committing to the dismantling of anti-personnel landmines. While this is only one step and does not address more destructive weapons, the number of signatures suggests a growing sentiment for peace and humanitarian protection. This collective commitment to safeguarding human life is, to me, a clear indicator of progress.

To conclude, from my perspective, history is marching towards “progress.” Over time there are clear shifts from oppression to liberation, especially in social spheres and across different demographics. Politically, progress is evident in diplomatic and international relations, with agreements being signed by a majority of the globe in efforts to maintain peace. Either way, a positive approach is required when we try to think about the days and months to come, otherwise what are we truly living for?

Bibliography

Anonymous, ‘Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction’, United Nations Treaty Collection, 7 November 2025 <https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-5&chapter=26&clang=_en> [accessed 3 November 2025].

Witham, Nick, ‘John Hope Franklin: The Racial Politics of Popular History’, in Popularising the Past: Historians, Publishers, and Readers in Post-War America, vol. 1 (2023), Chapter 3.