History Main / HegemonicEmpire

For skeptics that dislike the title, "Hegemony" is an indirect form of imperial dominance where the hegemon (leader state) rules subordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force. Although a HegemonicEmpire practices soft-power methods, it '''never''' means that the empire cannot be [[AffablyEvil evil]], [[VillainWithGoodPublicity corrupt]], or at the very least ALighterShadeOfGrey, nor does it mean that the empire is incapable of wielding hard power [[AwakeningTheSleepingGiant when provoked]].

* The Star Empire of Manticore in the later ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' novels is apparently heading in this direction, having acquired a certain taste for expansionism and imperialism, but still remaining TheKingdom/TheRepublic good guys they started as. At the same time, Solarian League, despite quite obviously cracking at the seams, is still it big time.

* In ''CrestOfTheStars'', the Humankind Empire Abh and the Alliance both practice largely differing methods for this trope. Needless to say, the results aren't pretty. Of course, [[YourMileageMayWary it can be argued]] that despite their Evil Empire cred, the Abh approach is much better that the [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny United Mankind's]] one. They, at least, don't force their subjects into reeducation camps, and actually cannot care less about what they do with themselves as far as certain requirements are met.

* The Star Empire of Manticore in the later ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' novels is apparently heading in this direction, having acquired a certain taste for expansionism and imperialism. At the same time, Solarian League, despite quite obviously cracking at the seams, is still it big time.

* In ''CrestOfTheStars'', the Humankind Empire Abh and the Alliance both practice largely differing methods for this trope. Needless to say, the results aren't pretty.

* The Star Empire of Manticore in the later ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' novels, having usurped the position from the Solarian League.

* Manticore in HonorHarrington.
* TheCulture is one of these.

Except ''these''. Following the concept of a soft power, this sort of empire that doesn't need to rule through its military; to [[OrwellianEditor remove]] and [[OrwellianRetcon rewrite]] facts; to [[DoubleThink believe a contradiction]]; or [[NewSpeak destroy the vocabulary]], although it certainly ''can'', and even then, more subtly. No, a HegemonicEmpire dominates through [[MoreThanMindControl attraction, absorption and enthrallment]], though it may be forced to utilize coercion, extortion and indoctrination. Common subordinate nations include protectorates, colonies, supported dictatorships, mini-states (designed to reflect their interests as a supposedly independent nation), occupied territories (where they'll force the natives to basically leach off their invaders' resources to survive), satellite states and puppet governments.

* ParadoxInteractive titles such as the ''EuropaUniversalis'' series include mechanics for expanding through peaceful vassalization and annexation.

* Most superpowers in ''{{Soundscape}}'' qualify, but each are fairly different in their executions. One ''has'' to bare a mentioning, though, and that is the Destrier Hierarchy under Thonnergan. He controls the news media in Metropolis, spearheads {{Magitek}} development, and commands the trade seen within Taetrus. His soft power methods, however, were emulated by the criminal underworld, enough that they've been imposed as the most beneficial methods to achieve success in multidimensional affairs.

* In ''ZeroNoTsukaima'', Romalia also utilizes a different sort of hegemony over Halkagenia, a continent that consists of five independent nations (Albion, Gallia, Germania, Romalia, and Tristain). Romalia is relatively weak militarily, and it often remains neutral (such as when Albion declared war on Tristain), but the Romalian Emperor, by exerting control over the church, can nonetheless override the other rulers' decisions.

* In ''SwordOfTheStars 2'' the Morrigi see themselves as self-appointed protectors of the "younger races", as such their Confederation incorporates many more species than most of the other factions and players of any faction can annex minor races peacefully..

* [[OlderThanTheyThink The earliest example]] would be the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloponnesian_League Peloponnesian League]] of city - states c.500 B.C., making this one OlderThanFeudalism. The League was even the TropeNamer, since the position of leadership within the league was referred to as "hegemon".

* Most superpowers in ''{{Soundscape}}'' qualify, but each are fairly different in their executions.
** The Aselian Kingdom isn't an empire, but their position in the universe grants them considerable influence, even authority over a couple of the other factions. They have the smallest military, receive tons of foreign aid from other factions (hence part of why they've survived this long), and reside within a vulnerable realm, but they possess chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction, [[StoryBreakerPower powered by Seithr]]. [[{{Understatement}} Not many would want to antagonize a juggernaut like that]], but they haven't had [[GenreSavvy an official confirmation that they have said weapons]]; the ambiguity allows for aid by foreign nations looking to appease a thermonuclear power, and they barely have to lift a finger on their own to fight their own battles as a result. Diplomatically, they're the sponsors of a non-aggression pact between the various superpowers, which allows them to dictate the terms of said pact. They're not members of TheAlliance, but they have sympathizers and those that hold the same religious beliefs as they do; "their" representatives block, overrule and/or ignore "anti-Aselian" bills, perform sanctions against the Aselians' rivals, and propose/enact pro-Aselia initiatives without regard for those standing opposed to such initiatives. Furthermore, since Aselia isn't part of TheAlliance, they're not bound by the laws that the Alliance passed down to their members. Finally, they have a powerful lobby within TheRepublic, TheFederation, TheAlliance ''and'' TheEmpire; their interests influence foreigners and enable them to enact whatever policies that Aselia itself wants.
** The Anqullan Republic is relatively more mundane; they have unincorporated territories (areas under the jurisdiction of the Republic, who apply their laws onto that of the territories' local government and inhabitants). Although they barely affect Republic affairs, they're allowed representation within the Anqullan government, and they're granted with the same rights, privileges and immunities as any other Republic citizen. Full incorporation rests within that of the population, as well, and they're defended by strongholds of "peacekeepers" (as in, mercenaries that act like a private army). Transportation within the west (Republic territory), both geographical and multidimensional, is largely due to Anqullan innovators and entrepreneurs. Various forms of multi-media outlets are also controlled by the Republic: the film industry, the news media and commercial ads are owned, coordinated and dominated by Anqullans, while most authors are Anqullans.
** The Cryslian Federation utilizes protectorates, whom are under the safeguard of the Federation in exchange for assimilating into Cryslian society (their [[PlanetOfHats hat]] may prove useful for the Federation), but they tend to leave bases ''within'' those protectorates, almost as if they're ready to perform BigBrotherIsWatching on the populace. Sometimes, the soldiers within those bases act like law enforcers, with the same level of authority/immunity as FBI agents. Their military revolves around mechas, biological robots and synchronization with drones; weaker realms are often forced to accept terms that turn them into protectorates, and there's quite a lot of discrimination against species that haven't been assimilated into Cryslian society. Other client realms include occupied territories that are forced into co-dependance; colonies that lack independent international representation, and have its top-level administration under direct control of the Federation; associated realm-states, where the hegemon provides assistance to a minor-power realm, (i.e. defending their independence and sovereignty, accepting refugees and immigrants as Cryslian citizens, taking responsibility for their diplomatic relations, protecting their borders from criminals, acting on their behalf in defense, economic or foreign affairs with their advice and consent, allowing funding grants and access to federal social services), so long as they exercise their rights in conformity with Cryslian interests and operate as subunits within the Federation (internal independence in exchange for external co-dependance); vassal states, where the rulers provide military assistance to their hegemon; quisling governments, who provide more subtle methods of assistance to the Federation (smuggling goods, transferring refugees, sending mercenaries, trading weaponry, developing Federation-benefiting technology and so forth); collaborationist entities within a realm-state, who influence their species to support the Federation; and copycat states, designed to reflect federal interests in other parts of the verse. Finally, their technology that dominates their part of the universe (i.e. imagine Adobe or Microsoft for an entire galaxy), and if the Federation falls, so will the tech for everyone else associated with the Federation.
** The Destrier Hierarchy under Thonnergan is... rather unorthodox. He controls the news media in Metropolis, spearheads {{Magitek}} development, and commands the trade seen within Taetrus. His soft power methods, however, were emulated by the criminal underworld, enough that they've been imposed as the most beneficial methods to achieve success in multidimensional affairs.
** The Equerrean Hegemony utilize neocolonialism; instead of direct military or political control, capitalism, globalization, and cultural forces dominate the society/civilization of their clients. Such control can be economic, cultural, or linguistic; by promoting ones' own culture, language or media in the colony, corporations embedded in that culture can then make greater headway in opening the markets in those countries. Satellite states (formally independent, but influenced heavily), puppet governments (where a nominally sovereign nation-realm is controlled by the hegemon), and watchmen states (where the Hegemony is only responsible for the protection of individuals from aggression, theft, breach of contract, and fraud; the only legitimate governmental institutions are the military, police and courts) are all utilized by the Equerreans.
** The Taetrian Confederacy controls trade and spearheads {{Magitek}} distribution. Practically every superpower wants a piece of the action, and if Taetrus decides to sever such distribution from your nation-realm, good luck trying to recover from the fallout. In fact, they are the ''de facto'' leaders of TheAlliance (which acts like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergovernmental_organization an intergovernmental organization]]); the other members depend heavily on trading materials that allow for Taetrians to create even more supplies, resources and tech for their clients.
** The Valhallan Dominion isn't really in a position to expand their territories, given their unusual governmental system, so they employ tributary states, where other realms trade materials that are used for Seithr research in Valhalla. Such relations nominally involve no element of administrative control or interference by the Valhallans under normal circumstances, but the Valhallans will intervene in a SuccessionCrisis and ratify the accession of a monarch. However, Valhallans tend to impose their culture onto others, slowly assimilating the policies and social norms of their tribune states. Valhallans are also known to be real estate tycoons, especially regarding their tributary states.

** The Anqullan Republic is relatively more mundane; they have unincorporated territories (areas under the jurisdiction of the Republic, who apply their laws onto that of the territories' local government and inhabitants). Although they barely affect Republic affairs, they're allowed representation within the Anqullan government, and they're granted with the same rights, privileges and immunities as any other Republic citizen. Full incorporation rests within that of the population, as well, and they're defended by strongholds of "peacekeepers" (as in, mercenaries that act like a private army). Transportation within the west (Republic territory), both geographical and multidimensional, is largely due to Anqullan innovators and entrepreneurs.

** The Taetrian Confederacy controls trade and spearheads {{Magitek}} distribution. Practically every superpower wants a piece of the action, and if Taetrus decides to sever such distribution from your nation-realm, good luck trying to recover from the fallout. In fact, they are the ''de facto'' leaders of TheAlliance (which acts like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergovernmental_organization an intergovernmental organization); the other members depend heavily on trading materials that allow for Taetrians to create even more supplies, resources and tech for their clients.

One of the most effective ways is to utilize neocolonialism, where you use capitalism, globalization, and cultural forces to control a country in lieu of direct military or political control. Such control can be economic, cultural, or linguistic; by promoting ones' own culture, language or media in the colony, corporations embedded in that culture can then make greater headway in opening the markets in those countries.

* Most superpowers in ''{{Soundscape}}'' qualify, from the Cryslian Federation and the Equerrean Hegemony, to the Valhallan Dominion.

Whenever the HegemonicEmpire faces a situation where they have to get more hands-on (like the occupied territories), it's not just that the smaller countries are dealing with a Superpower in a direct, country to country struggle; the Superpower meddles in their affairs, corrupts and barters and plays with them, and just flat-out won't let them run themselves.

The bureaucratic administration of an HegemonicEmpire can vary; it may be TheRepublic, TheFederation, TheKingdom or even TheAlliance.

For skeptics that dislike the title, "Hegemony" is an indirect form of imperial dominance where the hegemon (leader state) rules sub-ordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force. Although a HegemonicEmpire practices soft-power methods, it '''never''' means that the empire cannot be [[AffablyEvil evil]], [[VillainWithGoodPublicity corrupt]], or at the very least ALighterShadeOfGrey, nor does it mean that the empire is incapable of wielding hard power [[AwakeningTheSleepingGiant when provoked]].

[[AC: TabletopGames]]

* The Sylean Federation in {{Traveller}} was this, which provided the resources for it to be evolved into the Third Imperium under Emperor Cleon I. The Third Imperium is more a straightforward Empire(albeit a semi-benevolent one) but still has elements of this including taking time to flatter substates for ideological and policy reasons.

* The Sylean Federation in {{Traveller}} was this, which provided the resources for it to be evolved into the Third Imperium under Emperor Cleon I. The Third Imperium is more a straightforward Empire but still has elements of this including taking time to flatter substates for ideological and policy reasons.

* The ''{{Foundation}}'' was supposed to create one of these following the fall of the Galactic Empire by using their [[LostTechnology preserved knowledge of advanced technology]] as leverage against the neighboring systems.

Except ''these''. Following the concept of a soft power, this sort of empire that doesn't need to rule through its military; to [[OrwellianEditor remove]] and [[OrwellianRetcon rewrite]] facts; to [[DoubleThink believe a contradiction]]; or [[NewSpeak destroy the vocabulary]], although it certainly ''can'', and even then, more subtly. No, a HegemonicEmpire dominates through [[MoreThanMindControl attraction, absorption and enthrallment]], though it may be forced to utilize coercion, extortion and indoctrination. Common subordinate nations include protectorates, colonies, supported dictatorships, mini-states (designed to reflect their interests as a supposedly independent nation) occupied territories (where they'll force the natives to basically leach off their invaders' resources to survive), satellite states and puppet governments.

Except ''these''. Following the concept of a soft power, this sort of empire that doesn't need to rule through its military; to [[OrwellianEditor remove]] and [[OrwellianRetcon rewrite]] facts; to [[DoubleThink believe a contradiction]]; or [[NewSpeak destroy the vocabulary]], although it certainly ''can'', and even then, more subtly. No, a HegemonicEmpire dominates through [[MoreThanMindControl attraction, absorption and enthrallment]], though it may be forced to utilize coercion, extortion and indoctrination. Common subordinate nations include protectorates, colonies, supported dictatorships, occupied territories (where they'll force the natives to basically leach off their invaders' resources to survive), satellite states and puppet governments.

* In ''CrestOfTheStars'', the Humankind Empire Abh and the Alliance.

* In ''CrestOfTheStars'', the Humankind Empire Abh practises a different type of hegemonic influence - diplomacy. The Abh expand by military conquest, but this "conquest" will often consist of a single ship delivering a treaty of surrender, with no shots fired. The Abh then order the conquered world to surrender all long - range space travel capabilities to the empire, install an Abh noble to rule over the planet (who is sometimes chosen from the local population rather than imported), set up trade routes, and then as long as the ruling class follow the rules and the people don't cause too much trouble, pretty much leaves things alone except for an occasional military recruiter or observer.

* {{Soundscape}} is a partial TropeNamer, where the Cryslian Federation was called one as an insult, though the Equerrean Hegemony qualify [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin just as well]].

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* ''GirlGenius'': Baron Von Wulfenbach's empire acts a lot like this. All "The Baron's Peace" requires is "don't make me come over there."