Cultural Hegemony

Definition

Cultural hegemony refers to the dominance of a particular culture or worldview within a society, where the values, norms, and beliefs of the dominant group are widely accepted and internalized as the norm, often at the expense of marginalized or minority cultures. This concept is central to understanding the dynamics of power and influence in both contemporary ideologies and critical worldviews.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cultural hegemony is a key concept in understanding the perpetuation of power structures and the marginalization of minority or subordinate cultures within a society.
2. The dominant culture's values, norms, and beliefs are often presented as universal and natural, obscuring their constructed and political nature.
3. Cultural hegemony can be maintained through various means, including control over education, media, and cultural institutions, as well as the internalization of dominant values by the subordinate groups.
4. The concept of cultural hegemony is central to critical theory and its analysis of the ways in which power is exercised and reproduced through cultural and ideological means.
5. Challenging cultural hegemony is a key goal of many social and political movements, as it is seen as a crucial step in achieving greater equity and representation for marginalized groups.

Review Questions

• Explain how cultural hegemony relates to the concept of contemporary ideologies further to the political left.
  • Cultural hegemony is a central concern for many contemporary ideologies further to the political left, such as critical theory and postcolonial studies. These perspectives recognize that the dominance of a particular cultural worldview, often aligned with the interests of the ruling class or majority group, serves to maintain existing power structures and marginalize alternative perspectives. Challenging cultural hegemony is seen as a necessary step in promoting greater social, economic, and political equity for marginalized groups and disrupting the status quo.
• Describe how the concept of cultural hegemony is understood within the context of critical worldviews.
  • Within critical worldviews, the concept of cultural hegemony is used to analyze the ways in which dominant cultural norms, values, and beliefs are perpetuated and reinforced through various social, political, and economic institutions. Critical theorists argue that cultural hegemony serves to legitimize the power of the dominant group and obscure the constructed nature of social reality, making it appear natural and inevitable. Identifying and challenging cultural hegemony is therefore a central goal of critical worldviews, as it is seen as a crucial step in promoting social transformation and empowering marginalized groups.
• Evaluate the role of cultural hegemony in shaping the political and social landscape, particularly in relation to the topics of contemporary ideologies further to the political left and critical worldviews.
  • Cultural hegemony plays a significant role in shaping the political and social landscape, as the dominance of a particular cultural worldview can serve to legitimize and perpetuate existing power structures. Within the context of contemporary ideologies further to the political left and critical worldviews, the concept of cultural hegemony is used to critically examine the ways in which the values, norms, and beliefs of the dominant group are presented as universal and natural, obscuring their constructed and political nature. By challenging cultural hegemony and exposing the ways in which it serves to marginalize alternative perspectives, these ideological frameworks aim to promote greater social, economic, and political equity, and to empower marginalized groups in their pursuit of social transformation.

Related terms

Gramsci's Hegemony: The Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci's concept of hegemony, which emphasizes the role of cultural and ideological forces in maintaining the power of dominant social groups.

Dominant Ideology: The set of beliefs, values, and norms that are promoted and accepted as the legitimate and natural order within a society, often serving the interests of the dominant social group.

Cultural Imperialism:

The process by which a powerful culture imposes its values, norms, and practices on other cultures, often through economic, political, or social dominance.