hegemony

Hegemony refers to leadership or dominance of one state, class, or group over others within a system. In international relations it denotes a preeminent power whose capabilities—military, economic, political—enable it to shape rules, norms, and the terms of cooperation. Hegemony can rest on coercion, but it often persists because other actors accept the hegemon's legitimacy and perceive benefits in the existing order.

In sociology and cultural studies, cultural hegemony describes how the ruling class secures consent by shaping ideas, values, and institutions so that the social order appears natural and desirable, making dissent appear as deviation.

Mechanisms include control over economic resources, influence within international organizations, and the dissemination of language, media, and education that ratify the status quo. Legal and political norms, security arrangements, and alliance networks also reinforce dominance.

Historical examples range from ancient Rome's regional hegemony to the British Empire and the postwar United States-led liberal order. Theories such as hegemonic stability argue that a single power can provide public goods—security, open trade—though this view is debated and disputed by rising powers and multipolar models.

Critics stress that hegemony is fragile, dependent on sustained consent, and vulnerable to counter-hegemonic movements, economic shocks, and shifts in global power. The concept remains useful for analyzing both state power and the cultural underpinnings of dominance, as well as strategies of resistance.

Related ideas include soft power, cultural hegemony, and counter-hegemony, which together help explain how dominance is established, maintained, and challenged in international and domestic spheres.