Hegemony ( from the greek hegemonia, meaning 'leader') is, in its simplest sense, the ascendancy or domination of one element of the system over others. For example , state which is predominant within a league , confederation or region can be said to enjoy hegemony . In marxist theory the term is used in a more technical and specific sense. In the writings of antonio gramsci (1891-1937), hegemony refers to the ability of a dominant social class to exercise power by winning the consent of those it subjugates, as an alternative to the use of coercion. As a non-coercive from of class rule, hegemony is typically understood as a cultural or ideological process that operates through the dissemination of bourgeois values and beliefs throughout society. However, it also has a political and economic dimension:consent can be manipulated by pay increases or by political or social reform