History Main / HumansAreLeaders

** HumansAdvanceSwiftly is also present, as it took humanity a grand total of 30 years to go from FirstContact to a seat on the ruling Council. The Council has existed for ''millenia'', and every other sentient race joining the galactic community was just made a client race (save the Turians, who got their seat for almost single-handedly putting down the Krogan Rebellions). Humanity basically blusters its way in by showing up, expecting to be given a Council seat, and then getting annoyed that it's taking so long for the Council to catch up and do it already. And it works!

** In the [[VideoGame/MassEffect3 third game]], Paragon Shepard is shown to be capable of [[spoiler: ending the Krogan genophage, allying the [[EnemyMine Krogan with the Turians]], get the help of the Rachni, end the 300-year-long war between the Geth and the Quarians, make most of the Salarian STG defect in order to help them... oh, and berating ''Balak'', who utterly despises Shepard, to lend the Batarian fleet to the cause, whilst he has a gun pointed at Shepard's head.]] Most of the characters react with utter bewilderment that Shepard, in the matter of a few months, manages to solve problems that the Council has failed at fixing for over 1000 years.
** While we're on the subject of the third game, it's revealed that humanity became the leaders of the galaxy in the war against the Reapers entirely against the [[BenevolentPrecursors Protheans']] expectations. They were expecting ''[[SpaceElves the Asari]]'' to become the leaders of this cycle, [[spoiler:and so seeded their world with artefacts and technology to give them a headstart in their development, but the Asari leadership [[RefusedTheCall foolishly squandered it instead]], leaving the galaxy hopelessly unprepared for the Reapers. The last surviving Prothean you unfreeze from stasis is surprised that the [[PunyEarthlings Dumb Earthlings]] that his people dismissed as a minor player at best are the ones who are actually stepping up and rallying the other races.]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* In Creator/EEDocSmith's ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'' stories the humans of [[strike:Earth]] Tellus led and provided most of the membership of the Galactic Patrol, even though other races were involved.

* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', [[CrystalDragonJesus Aslan]] designates humans as Narnia's ruling class, although the human royals do interbreed with nature spirits and the like over time.

* In ''Franchise/StarTrek'', humans are largely implied to be the driving force of TheFederation, particularly considering that its headquarters is on Earth and most Starfleet officers (that we've seen) are human.
** Vulcans in Series/StarTrekEnterprise label this as one of the Human's [[PlanetOfHats Hats]]. Humans are brash and more prone to throw caution to the wind when making decisions, but their curiosity to explore the unknown allows them to adapt so easily to different situations and environments that they excel as diplomats and mediators. They also believe that humans ''always'' feel the need to organize something, anything.
** This is, in fact, how TheFederation was formed, by humanity uniting several species that otherwise hated each other to respond to a [[EnemyMine common threat]].

* In ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'' while the Systems Commonwealth was founded by the Vedrans humans quickly made themselves into the "backbone" of the Commonwealth. In addition many governments established during the Long Night after the fall of the Commonwealth were led by humans, for better or for worse, and of course Captain Hunt with his mission to restore the Commonwealth is human (well, half-human). The Restored Commonwealth is also led by three humans (it helps that there are no Vedrans to be found).

* In ''TabletopGame/MyriadSong'' the resident AbusivePrecursors used humans as slave overseers and human aristocrats still rule the [[TheRemnant Remanence]]. Mechanically all humans, even commoners, start out with the Leadership Gift and apply their Legacy trait to Tactics.

* In the ''VideoGame/MasterOfOrion'' series, the humans tend to be [[HumansAreAverage average]] in terms of most stats (though having a slight edge in research overall except against the Psilons), but they have a ''massive'' diplomacy bonus that allows them to easily make friends with all other races (who tend to have at least one major rival each) as well as the ability to get benefits from trade treaties much more quickly.
** The [[AllThereInTheManual background information]] for ''Master of Orion III'' shows that it was a human-led alliance that destroyed the Guardian. Of course, the humans then took the lion's share of the spoils, much to the chagrin of the other races. Humans were also instrumental in stopping the [[AbusivePrecursors Antareans]] (or so they thought).
* Likewise in the ''VideoGame/GalacticCivilizations'' games, the Terran Alliance has an edge in diplomacy over most other races.

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'', while there are several races of Men, they (mostly) more closely fit the HumansAreWarriors mold. The exception are the aptly-named Imperials, who have been at the epicenter of Tamrielic politics since St. Alessia, and have founded three empires (under the Alessian, Reman, and Septim dynasties) from their home of Cyrodiil. While their [[BadassArmy Imperial Legions]] obviously play a large part in ''forging'' their empires, it is their ability as leaders, [[HumansAreDiplomats diplomats]], and [[ProudMerchantRace merchants]] that ''keep'' their empires together. At times in their various dynasties, they've had members of the other races (most notably Nords, Bretons, and even one prominent Dunmer/Dark Elf) in the position of Emperor (or Empress) while successfully maintaining their empires. While other races have, throughout history, also successfully taken over large parts of Tamriel, none have been as successful in ruling it as the various Cyrodiilic Empires. In-game, this trait typically manifests as bonuses to the Speechcraft skill and/or racial abilities that act as [[CharmPerson Calm or Command]] spells.
* Playable humans in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' represent one of the last two human nations still standing, and other members of the Alliance like the dwarves should in theory have more soldiers and a stronger army than them, but look at any conflict where the Alliance is present and chances are most of the commanders and soldiers will be humans. Campaigns in Outland, Northrend, Vashj'ir, Lordaeron? All led by humans, with token presence from other races. The only exceptions are when the conflict takes place in another race's backyard (Ashenvale).
* Related to the Franchise/StarTrek example above, Humans in VideoGame/StarTrekOnline are the only race with the Leadership trait, which is exceptionally beneficial for speeding up the rate of your ship's hull repair. In layman's terms, they increase the regeneration of your ship's HP.

* In ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', the [[HumansByAnyOtherName Hylians]] are always portrayed as the "leader race," with the Royal Family of Hyrule in charge of the whole kingdom having universally been Hylians while the non-Hylians pretty much only have jurisdiction over their own provinces. In fact, the only non-Hylian portrayed as being actively in charge of Hyrule at any point is [[BigBad Ganondorf]], a member of the similarly human-like Gerudo race. The only exception to the rule has been the BeastMan Rauru. According to legend, Hylians were chosen by the [[TopGod Golden Goddess]] Farore to uphold the world's natural laws.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Part of Tarquin's GenreBlindness (ironically enough for someone who functions on GenreSavvy) is thinking that his son is TheHero in a party composed of three humans, an elf, a dwarf, and a halfling. Elan knows that the big story is about Roy, who has a more personal connection with the BigBad Xykon, but his father can't see past his own rigid ideas of how a story goes.

* In ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', the [[HumansByAnyOtherName Hylians]] are always portrayed as the "leader race," with the Royal Family of Hyrule in charge of the whole kingdom having universally been Hylians while the non-Hylians pretty much only have jurisdiction over their own provinces. In fact, the only non-Hylian portrayed as being actively in charge of Hyrule at any point is [[BigBad Ganondorf]], a member of the similarly human-like Gerudo race.

* Probably a coincidence, but for a short time Bouncing Boy is designated as leader for the ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperheroes''. Guess which planet he's from. Go on.