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hegemony

hi-JEM-uh-nee /hɪˈdʒɛməni/

nounC1GREUPSC

academicpolitical

Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.

In sociology, it often refers to 'cultural hegemony'—the way a ruling class dominates a diverse society by manipulating the culture so that their worldview becomes the accepted norm.

The story behind the word. Originally used in Ancient Greece to describe the dominance of one city-state (like Sparta or Athens) over others, the term was revitalized by Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci to explain how the state uses 'soft power' to keep the masses in line.

Word relationships

dominance: Dominance is more general; hegemony implies a leadership that others have consented to or accepted as natural.

subordination: The state of being under the control of another, the direct opposite of holding hegemony.

Commonly confused with

sovereignty: Sovereignty is the legal right to rule; hegemony is the actual exercise of dominant influence.

Word family

hegemonic (adjective): Relating to or characteristic of hegemony.

Collocations

cultural hegemony
global hegemony
establish hegemony
challenge hegemony

Example sentences

"The end of the Cold War left the United States in a position of global hegemony." Discussing international relations.
"Gramsci argued that the ruling class maintains hegemony through cultural institutions rather than just force." Sociological theory.

Memory hook

Think of a 'hedge' around a 'money' tree—the one who owns the hedge controls the access and sets the rules for everyone else. Hedge-Money: The boss who controls the field.

When not to use

Do not use it for simple physical bullying; it implies a more complex, systemic, or ideological dominance.

Fun facts

The term is often mispronounced; the 'g' can be soft (like 'gem') or hard (like 'get'), but 'hi-JEM-uh-nee' is the most standard academic pronunciation.