What is hegemony?

1. Domination, influence, or authority over another, especially by one political group over a society or by one nation over others (e.g.: internationally among nation-states, and regionally over social classes, between languages or even culture).

   The two political parties battled viciously for hegemony.

   
   

2. *****Dominance of one social group over another, such that the ruling group or hegemon acquires some degree of consent from the subordinate, as opposed to dominance purely by force.******

source: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hegemony