Holland in the seventeenth century, Britain in the nineteenth and the USA in the twentieth. Applying Gramsci's idea of dominance through 'intellectual and moral leadership' within states to relations between states, Taylor makes a useful conceptual lateral shift. Hegemonic states are core states in the system of global politics which act as reference points or guides to other states.
Culture plays an important role in addition to coercion.
The rise of the three hegemons is considered historically and in detail and here the author substantiates his argument by detailed illustration from the three societies. Throughout the book there are interesting and pertinent insights and comparisons between the three societies. In covering such a vast canvas both over time and in subject content, specialists will no doubt point to deficiencies and imbalances. It would be a pity to dwell on these for the book has a powerful message as a study in macro sociology of the global system. However, there are a number of themes which could have been given more attention even within the paradigm adopted.