Cultural hegemony refers to domination or rule preserved through ideological or cultural means. It is achieved via social institutions, which permit those in power to influence the values, norms, ideas, expectations, worldviews, and behavior of the rest of society.

Cultural hegemony works by framing the perspective of the governing class and the social and economic structures that exemplify it as just, legitimate, and created for the benefit of all, even though these structures may benefit the ruling class. This sort of power differs from rule by force, as in a dictatorship, because it enables the ruling class to use authority utilizing the “peaceful” means of ideology and culture.