Hegemony

Power rarely works by force alone: it also rules by winning hearts and minds. States, classes, and social groups all seek political dominance by exerting political, ideological, or cultural leadership over others. This idea – hegemony – is a subtle, complex one, which is too often applied crudely. In this succinct introduction, political theorist James Martin skilfully examines these nuances and shines a new light on hegemony. He introduces its component ideas and critically surveys the most influential thinking about hegemony, from Gramsci’s theory of hegemony as a revolutionary strategy and Marxist theories of the state, politics, and culture to the Post-Marxist project of radical democracy. He then considers the concept’s critical role in analysing international politics and global political economy, and evaluates the criticism that hegemony is too state-centric to truly capture the dynamics of contemporary struggles for emancipation. This lucid and accessible guide to hegemony will be essential reading for all students of radical politics and social and political theory.

"In this well-written, theoretically sophisticated, and historically contextualized introduction to the concept of hegemony, James Martin introduces the background to the concept, and reflects on its significance in Gramsci and its subsequent appropriations in politics and international relations. It is an excellent account of the breadth and depth of the concept, its critical application, strengths, and weaknesses."—Bob Jessop, University of Lancaster "Through a series of chapters that explore the past, present, and future of the concept, Martin brightly illuminates hegemony and subtly shows why it may be the sine qua non of political theorizing."—Samuel A. Chambers, Johns Hopkins University

James Martin is Professor of Politics at Goldsmiths, University of London.