The concept of cultural hegemony, most notably articulated by the Italian Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci, offers a sophisticated framework for understanding how dominant social classes maintain power. Diverging from models that emphasize coercion and physical force, hegemony posits that control is primarily achieved not through overt violence, but through the dissemination of a dominant ideology that becomes accepted as 'common sense'. This ideological superstructure, which permeates societal norms, values, and beliefs, functions to legitimize the status quo. The ruling class establishes its position through what Gramsci termed 'intellectual and moral leadership', securing the active or passive acquiescence of subordinate groups. This process is seldom a conscious conspiracy; rather, it is perpetuated through civil society institutions such as education systems, religious bodies, and the media. These institutions act as vehicles for the ruling class's worldview, framing it as natural, universal, and beneficial for all, thereby manufacturing a 'spontaneous consent' from the very classes it subordinates. Consequently, this form of rule is profoundly resilient, as challenging it requires not just political revolution but a fundamental counter-hegemonic struggle to transform collective consciousness. The alternative to this subtle, consent-based system is outright domination, which is typically less stable and more resource-intensive to sustain.