bàquán: 霸权 - Hegemony, Dominance, Supremacy

Keywords: bàquán, 霸权, Chinese hegemony, what does baquan mean, cultural hegemony, political dominance in Chinese, American hegemony, 霸权主义, 霸权国家, international relations China

Summary: The Chinese term 霸权 (bàquán) translates to “hegemony” or “dominance” and is a critical concept in understanding Chinese political discourse. It almost always carries a negative connotation, referring to the coercive and self-serving power a strong nation imposes on others. Deeply rooted in China's history of warring states, bàquán is frequently used today to critique the foreign policy of superpowers, particularly the United States. This page explores the cultural background, practical usage, and nuances of bàquán to help you understand this powerful and politically charged word.

Pinyin (with tone marks): bàquán

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: HSK 6

Concise Definition: The dominance, especially political and military, of one state or group over others.

In a Nutshell: Think of 霸权 (bàquán) not as “leadership,” but as “bossiness” on a global scale. It describes a situation where a powerful country or entity doesn't lead by example or consensus, but by using its strength—be it military, economic, or cultural—to force its will upon others. It implies a power dynamic that is unfair, unwelcome, and driven by self-interest.

霸 (bà): This character originally referred to a powerful feudal lord during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China—a “hegemon” or “overlord.” It signifies dominance achieved through might and coercion.

权 (quán): This character means “power,” “authority,” or “right.” It's a fundamental character in words related to control and influence, like 权力 (quánlì - power).

Together, 霸权 (bàquán) literally means the “power of an overlord” or “tyrannical power.” This combination immediately gives the word its strong negative connotation of oppressive and illegitimate authority.

Historical Roots: The concept of 霸 (bà) is deeply embedded in Chinese history, particularly the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋时期, c. 771-476 BC). During this era, the central Zhou Dynasty's authority weakened, and powerful feudal lords (霸主, bàzhǔ) vied for control through military force and political maneuvering. This period of constant warfare and instability left a lasting cultural impression: the pursuit of hegemony is seen as a source of chaos, conflict, and suffering.

Contrast with Western “Leadership”: In American or Western culture, being a “global leader” can be framed as a positive, even benevolent, responsibility (e.g., “leader of the free world”). In contrast, the Chinese concept of 霸权 (bàquán) is almost exclusively negative. The Chinese government frequently makes the pledge “永不称霸” (yǒng bù chēng bà), meaning “to never seek hegemony.” This reflects a stated foreign policy goal rooted in the principle of non-interference and a historical aversion to the chaos caused by dominant, expansionist powers. This highlights a different cultural value placed on global harmony and state sovereignty versus proactive intervention.

International Politics: This is the most common context for 霸权. It is a cornerstone of Chinese political rhetoric, used in official government statements, news media (like Xinhua and People's Daily), and academic articles to critique the foreign policy of the United States. Terms like “American hegemony” (美国霸权) and “hegemonism” (霸权主义) are frequently used.

Business and Technology: The term can be extended to the corporate world to describe a company with a near-monopolistic hold on an industry. For example, one might talk about “tech hegemony” (科技霸权) to describe a company that uses its dominant market position to stifle competition and control innovation.

Informal or Metaphorical Use: In a less serious, often humorous way, 霸权 can describe a person who is extremely bossy or domineering in a specific, low-stakes situation. For instance, someone who always controls the TV remote might be jokingly said to have “remote control hegemony” (遥控器霸权). This usage is informal and relies on the shared understanding of the term's negative, overbearing nature.

Negative Connotation is (Almost) Always Present: While the English academic term “hegemony” can sometimes be used in a neutral, analytical way, its Chinese translation 霸权 (bàquán) is almost always used with a critical or accusatory tone in everyday and political language. Assuming it's a neutral descriptor is a common mistake.

Not Just About Military: While its roots are in military conflict, 霸权 in modern usage widely applies to economic, technological, and cultural dominance as well (e.g., 美元霸权 - US dollar hegemony, 文化霸权 - cultural hegemony).

霸权主义 (bàquán zhǔyì) - Hegemonism. The ideology, policy, or system of seeking and maintaining hegemony.

称霸 (chēng bà) - (Verb) To seek hegemony, to dominate. Often used in the negative pledge “永不称霸” (yǒng bù chēng bà).

霸道 (bàdào) - (Adjective) Domineering, tyrannical. Describes the personality of a person who acts like a hegemon.

霸主 (bàzhǔ) - Hegemon, overlord. The person or state that holds the hegemony.

强权政治 (qiángquán zhèngzhì) - Power politics. The principle of “might makes right,” which is the foundation of hegemony.

单边主义 (dānbiān zhǔyì) - Unilateralism. A policy of acting alone, often seen as a characteristic behavior of a hegemonic power.

干涉 (gānshè) - To interfere. A key action of a hegemonic power is interfering in the internal affairs of other, weaker nations.

领导地位 (lǐngdǎo dìwèi) - Leadership position. A neutral or positive alternative to 霸权, implying leadership earned through respect and competence, not force.

和平共处五项原则 (Hépíng Gòngchǔ Wǔ Xiàng Yuánzé) - The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. A set of principles in Chinese foreign policy that stand in direct philosophical opposition to hegemonism.