Hegemony

Hegemony

A Greek term which defines dominance and imperial power. In the realm of International Relations, hegemony is exercised by a state (hegemon) which rules subordinate political actors through different means of power, be it military, economic or cultural influence. Throughout the history of humankind, hegemonic powers have always been present and in the contemporary global outlook it is widely agreed among scholars that hegemony is exercised by the USA, although challenged by the rise of new, emerging military and economic superpowers.