The article offers a critique of Wendt\u27s conception of progress in history. It argues that Wendt arrives at his conception of historical progress from his meta-theory and his progressive view of science. For those not accepting Wendt\u27s mera-theory, interpretation of historical progress is less convincing. Wendt\u27s conception of progress leads to a devaluation of diplomacy for it prevents us seeing that only successful diplomacy can make change appear progressive, fostering a reading of the past through the lenses of political legitimacy. If the existing conception of political legitimacy makes it difficult for us to read our own past without prejudice, diplomacy across cultures is all the more difficult. The conclusion is that a thi...