Hegemony

Hegemony in the common vernacular simply means leadership or domination of a group or society by another individual or group. For example, in the medieval West African empires, the Malinke were the hegemon of the Sahel and, later, the Soninke. The term hegemony took on a different meaning as it was used by the Italian Marxist and political philosopher Antonio Gramsci. Gramsci defines hegemony as a cultural and institutional order that functions as the dominant informant of the values, customs, beliefs, principles, and social relations of a society. Under Gramsci, hegemony was transformed into a social and political construct that maintained itself and civil order through civil consent and, when necessary, through force. Hegemony is important to discussions of identity and identity studies because it contributes to the formation and maintenance of individual and collective identities.

The order of the hegemony is constructed through holding preponderant influence in five distinct spheres of influence that make up society: ideological, political, cultural, economic, and force. When these spheres of influence are brought together and interconnected, hegemony can be maintained in a society, empire, or even the world.

Ideological hegemony is the glue that binds the entire construct of hegemony together. Ideological hegemony is established when the ruling elite achieves dominance of the ideas and cultural norms of the poor and middle class. This phenomenon can take place even when, in reality, the cultural norms of the elite are in clear opposition of the interest of the middle class and the poor. For example, the concept of rugged individualism is often espoused among poor inner-city communities. In contrast, entrepreneurship and wealth acquisition are clearly linked to the cultivation of business relationships and establishing strong organizational systems for people. The rugged individual seldom gains much in terms of business and power.

Cultural hegemony, like ideological hegemony, is the dominance of the ruling elite in cultural norms and ideas. The difference is that cultural hegemony is maintained through a more systematic and institutional framework. At inception, cultural hegemony is a direct appendage to ideology; it is when this ideology is taught in the school system and perpetuated through the media (i.e., newsprint, textbook, radio, cinema, etc.) that it takes its full cultural manifestation. At inception, cultural hegemony can often be seen in the very way that a group of people view historical events or if the events are even acknowledged as having occurred. This is typified in the cultural wars that have come to exist in the debate about the United States and the intentions of its founding fathers and in the controversy surrounding gay marriage. This is the dynamic that allows hegemony to have influence even in a multiethnic setting and the ensuing negotiations of cultural identities.

Along with the establishment of cultural hegemony comes the foundation of political hegemony. Political hegemony is the domination of the elite ruling class in the sphere of politics. For example, the fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini in Italy is a primary demonstration of complete political domination. In this sphere, there is a limitation placed upon access to governmental influence by rival political ideologues and ideologies. This limitation is necessary because it threatens one of the main pillars of the ruling elite: the consent of the masses. This control happens in the ideological sphere and then culturally in that there is a prohibition placed on the right of dissemination and organization of the rival political points of view. As a result, the view that things could be different politically never reaches the awareness of the masses.

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