CONSENSOS FRACTURADOS: HEGEMONíA Y TEORíA DE LA ARGUMENTACIóN

the popularity of the concept of 'hegemony' in political analysis has been as extensive as the criticism of its implications. for example, its assumption ofa necessary homogenization of the normative space and its neglect to the resistance processes underlying any apparent consensus. this article seeks to interpret the concept in such a way that it responds to these objections and, additionally, that it can be operationalized as a model for understanding processes of formation, expansion and destruction of consensus in modern societies. in order to do this, it relies on a comprehension of political action as a kind of communication based on arguments, aimed at obtaining a majority recognition, but whose effectiveness -which can be shown through some concepts of argumentation theory- is always gradual and fragmentary.