Definition: Hegemony refers to the dominance of one group over another, often supported by legitimating norms and ideas.
The term describes the dominant ideas that become common-sensical, inhibiting alternative ideas.
Hegemon: The actor, group, class, or state that exercises hegemonic power and disseminates hegemonic ideas.
Derived from a Greek term meaning "dominance over" related to city-states.
Antonio Gramsci: An Italian politician and philosopher analyzed hegemony in the context of a capitalist state.
Gramsci understood predominant rule as class rule, focusing on institutional forms and material relations of production.
Observed that class rule was often perpetuated through consent rather than brute force.
Intellectual and Moral Leadership: The means by which the ruling class maintains power by establishing consensus.
A hegemonic class attains the consent of other social forces; retaining this consent is an ongoing project.
Groups must understand their interests relative to the mode of production and those of other groups.
Civil Society Institutions: Play a critical role in shaping mass cognitions and promoting capitalist ideas.
National-Popular: The articulation of popular ideas beyond narrow class interests to establish hegemony.
The ruling class's ideas become ruling ideas within society, where mass media serves as a control vehicle.
The Illusion of Choice: Control of the media shapes public perception and opinion, often leading to oppression.
Early 20th-century propaganda promoted U.S. hegemony globally, suppressing dissenting critics.
Emerged fields of communication research aimed to measure and improve media effectiveness.
Cultural Marxism (Frankfurt School): Critiques commodified culture.
Cultural Materialism: Focuses on active audiences and societal impact.
Critical Political Economy: Examines the interplay between communication and societal power structures.
Seen as common sense; dependent on cultural power rather than force.
Promotes a social structure beneficial for the ruling class.
Ideology: A system of ideas forming the basis of political and economic theory.
Relationship: Hegemony uses ideology for control; ideology acts as a means of exerting hegemony.
Scope: Hegemony encompasses society, while ideology covers areas such as religion, education, and media.
Economic ideologies are normative; they express how economies should operate as opposed to simply explaining them.
Defined as a system where private actors own property and regulate markets based on supply and demand.
Profit motive is central, as posited by Adam Smith.
A capitalist principle suggesting optimal market efficiency without government regulation.
Originated from French economic theorists, reflecting self-regulating market principles.
Originated in Germany; embodies a mixed economy balancing market efficiency and social justice.
It emphasizes fair distribution of economic benefits.
Characterized by high-risk financial practices focusing on speculative investments rather than productive economic activities.
Linked to economic instability and the origins of the 2008 financial crisis.
A form of capitalism emphasizing government intervention to stabilize the economy and protect significant enterprises.
Aims for a balance between public governance and economic growth.
Combines elements of capitalism with government support for corporations.
Focuses on individual profits from trade while socializing losses.
Advocates for social ownership of production alongside political democracy.
Aims for a society that operates for public benefit rather than profit.
A theory combining Marxist class struggle with Lenin's ideas of a vanguard party guiding revolution.
Promotes the dictatorship of the proletariat and aims for a classless society.
Envisions a stateless, classless society with common ownership of production.
Seeks to liberate workers through a political and economic system organized by the community.