覇権

• Reading: はけん
• Romaji: haken
• Kanji breakdown: 覇 (ha) — hegemony, supremacy by force; 権 (ken) — authority, power
• Pronunciation: /hakeɴ/

Meaning

Hegemony; supremacy; preponderant political, military, or economic dominance exercised by one power over others.

A formal noun central to geopolitics and international relations, describing the dominant influence of a leading nation or bloc. 覇権国 (hegemonic power) and 覇権争い (struggle for hegemony) are common collocations. The concept draws on classical Chinese usage where 覇 referred to a regional lord who dominated others through force and strategic alliance rather than moral virtue.

Examples

1. 米中の覇権争いは、技術・軍事・経済の三分野で同時並行的に激化している。 The struggle for hegemony between the United States and China is intensifying simultaneously across the three domains of technology, military affairs, and economics.
2. かつてイギリスは海洋覇権を掌握し、植民地ネットワークを通じて世界貿易を支配していた。 Britain once held mastery of the seas and, through its colonial network, dominated world trade.
3. 覇権国の交代は歴史的に大規模な戦争を伴うことが多いという理論が、国際政治学者の間で議論されている。 The theory that transitions in hegemonic power have historically tended to be accompanied by large-scale wars is debated among international relations scholars.

Usage Guide

Context: international relations, history, geopolitics, journalism

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

From 覇 (dominance by force; a hegemonic lord) and 権 (authority, power, rights). 覇 is a complex character depicting a figure of authority subduing opponents. It entered Japanese political vocabulary through Chinese classical texts on statecraft.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated