What chance do the fundamental societal values and the human rights based on them have of gaining worldwide recognition? This question can also be formulated more generally: What does the medium and long-term future of humanity look like: is there progress, a trend towards higher development, is there rather the opposite trend towards increasing deterioration, or can one speak neither of one nor the other, only of an up and down, of cyclical transformation processes? The starting point of the approach developed here is a strong thesis by Kant. He postulated a long-term positive trend, which results from the negative consequences of the natural, individualistic tendencies and actions of people (ambition, greed, lust for power). However, since people are forced to cooperate, they must agree on common rules. These prevail in the long term—often only as a result of destructive events and processes—because they ultimately benefit everyone. This approach by Kant can be clearly distinguished from historical-philosophical and evolutionary-theoretical approaches (such as Hegel, Comte, Spengler, Elias) that postulate universal trends in which individual actors play no decisive role. In line with this basic thesis, this chapter identifies the central actors and processes in the enforcement of fundamental societal values. The former include three groups—idea givers, social activists, charismatic, powerful political personalities -, the latter include deep social crises, wars and revolutions. In addition, there are continuous processes of social change as a result of scientific-technological innovations and intercultural diffusion. It is also argued that the pace of implementation of fundamental social innovations plays a decisive role in their recognition and durability.