noun

hegemony

hih-JEM-uh-nee/hɪˈdʒeməni/

Dominance or leadership of one group, state, or ideology over others.

The central organization's hegemony shapes the decisions of the smaller groups around it.

At a meeting, one large central organization model occupies table center while smaller groups arrange themselves around its decisions, dominant group influence without flags.

Etymology

The idea of being a leader extended to one Greek city-state’s authority over others. That political relationship supplies the model for dominance by one group over others.

In context

Dwarkesh Patel131:42

no one's going to buy into a world order in which the United States is the hegemony who pushes everyone else around

Sarah C. M. Paine — Why dictators keep making the same fatal mistake

More examples

Smaller states form an alliance to resist their neighbor's hegemony.
The movement challenges the hegemony of free-market ideas.
Control of trade routes strengthens the country's economic hegemony.

Forms

hegemony · hegemonies

hegemonic adjective — Exercising dominance or leadership over others.

Similar words

dominance: Emphasizes superior power or control rather than leadership.
supremacy: Emphasizes the highest rank or power, not necessarily leadership.
leadership: Can mean guiding others without exercising dominance over them.