Hegemony has long been
a key concept within the study of International Relations, as well as across
the social sciences more generally, and a term used by analysts to make sense
of contemporary events. Drawing on a rich historical framework, this book
traces the different definitions and interpretations of hegemony in world
politics and shows that the term continues to be a contested one. It examines
and develops traditional ideas about hegemony – from the idea of the strong
leading state to the dominance of particular ideologies – through a wide range
of approaches including hegemonic stability theory and the work of Antonio
Gramsci.
Exploring issues such
as the role of the state, the changing influence of regionalism and the
emergence of counter-hegemonic movements, this book argues that a more nuanced
understanding of hegemony is necessary in order to understand the construction
of the contemporary world order. Considering a wide range of case studies
throughout – from the reputation of the United States as an international
leader, to the European Union’s regional hegemony and the economic prowess of
the so-called BRICS group – this text provides the ideal guide to a
multi-faceted term and significant force of both history and the modern age.