hegemony
hih-JEH-muh-nee
/hɪˈdʒɛməni/
Leadership, dominance, or paramount influence exercised by one nation, group, or social class over others.
Often implies cultural, economic, or military dominance that normalizes the ruling group's perspective as universal.
The story behind the word. In ancient Greece, hegemony described the leadership of city-states like Sparta or Athens over their military alliances. Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci later expanded the term to describe how ruling classes maintain power by making their values the universal norm.
Word relationships
- dominance: Dominance refers to plain power or control, whereas hegemony includes ideological and cultural consent.
- supremacy: Supremacy emphasizes highest rank or power, while hegemony focuses on pervasive influence across systems.
- subjugation: Subjugation is the state of being conquered or ruled, the opposite of holding supreme dominance.
Commonly confused with
- autocracy: Autocracy is government by a single ruler with absolute power; hegemony is systemic influence of one nation or group over others.
Word family
- hegemonic (adjective): Ruling or dominant in a political or social context.
- hegemon (noun): A supreme leader, dominant state, or ruling authority.
Collocations
- cultural hegemony
- global hegemony
- regional hegemony
- challenge hegemony
Idioms & expressions
- hegemonic power
- sphere of hegemony
Example sentences
- "The rise of emerging economies began to challenge the global hegemony long held by Western powers." International Relations
- "Cultural hegemony occurs when ruling elites convince lower classes that the existing social hierarchy is natural." Cultural Studies
Memory hook
HE-HAS-MONEY: the one with the money and power holds global hegemony. He-has-money leads the nation.
When not to use
Do not use for temporary leadership in a sports game or simple managerial oversight in a small office.
Fun facts
- Ancient Greek city-states formed the Delian League under the hegemony of Athens, which eventually turned into the Athenian Empire.
Related words
Explore more words
dominate, ascendancy, supremacy, leverage, federation, systemic
Also appears in
- Leadership → Power & Dominance
- Philosophy → Justice & Political Philosophy
- Political Science & Governance → Geopolitics & International Relations
- Political Science & Governance → State Sovereignty & Statecraft
- Military Science & Warfare → Arms Races & Defense Spending
- Philosophy → Feminist Philosophy
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Social Stratification & Hierarchy
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Caste Systems & Untouchability
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Marxist Sociology & Class
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Elite Theory & Power Structures
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