Hegemony
In the 19th century, hegemony came to denote the "Social or cultural predominance or ascendancy; predominance by one group within a society or milieu". Later, it could be used to mean "a group or regime which exerts undue influence within a society". Also, it could be used for the geopolitical and the cultural predominance of one country over others, from which was derived "hegemonism", as in the idea that the Great Powers meant to establish European hegemony over Asia and Africa.
Cultural hegemony
In philosophy and in sociology, the term "cultural hegemony" has denotations and connotations derived from the Ancient Greek word "ἡγεμονία (hegemonia)" indicating leadership and rule. In politics, hegemony is the geopolitical method of indirect imperial dominance, with which the "hegemon" (leader state) rules subordinate states, by the threat of intervention, an implied means of power, rather than by direct military force, that is, invasion, occupation, and annexation.