What is the definition of the Western World?

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

How do you define a western country? Democracy? Freedom? First world enconomy? It is a simple innocent question, I want to know what people think a country needs to be considered Western. Wikipedia has been no help at all, their defenitions are either vague or non-existant, and the maps make no sense as I don't see how they can tell weather this country's western and the other one isn't. An example: Japan, one of the freest countries in Eastern Asia, with a First World enconomy and the home of 3,598 McDonald's resteraunts (source: wikipedia), is not counted as a Western country in some wikipedia maps. So what is the defenition of a Western Country, what is Western Culture, I want to know what you think...

[Aru]

This question again. It pops out every few months. Let me ruin the discussion and put all the definitions right away.

Majority will say Western World is cold war NATO and EU15 + Switzerland. Americans and Brits (as well as Australians) will also include Australia.

Then somewhat fewer people will also include Japan, South Korea and Israel.

Less then half people would also include South America, South Africa and say parts of Eastern Europe have magically become Western recently.
Central Europeans will always include their countries, but exclude South America and Japan, as well as the first country that is east of them.
Minority will also include Russia.
Another Minority will exclude all non-Germanic and Anglo speaking countries.

I will exclude everyone and say that the term makes no sense and doesn't exist after the Cold War.
All of this and more at appropriate Wikipedia article.

[♔Goodguy1066♔]

This question again. It pops out every few months. Let me ruin the discussion and put all the definitions right away.

Majority will say Western World is cold war NATO and EU15 + Switzerland. Americans and Brits (as well as Australians) will also include Australia.

Then somewhat fewer people will also include Japan, South Korea and Israel.

Less then half people would also include South America, South Africa and say parts of Eastern Europe have magically become Western recently.
Central Europeans will always include their countries, but exclude South America and Japan, as well as the first country that is east of them.
Minority will also include Russia.
Another Minority will exclude all non-Germanic and Anglo speaking countries.

I will exclude everyone and say that the term makes no sense and doesn't exist after the Cold War.
All of this and more at appropriate Wikipedia article.

Why do fewer people include Japan, South Korea and Israel?

[Aru]

Why do fewer people include Japan, South Korea and Israel?

Because they're clearly not in the "West" part of the World, while the idea of Western is Euro-American. Japan and South Korea are included only because they're rich and modern democratic countries, but culturally they're quite distinct. The main argument of those who include Israel is that it's settled by Europeans (Jews from Europe) and takes part in European sport events.

[The Dude]

North America, Western Europe and Australia + New Zealand.

Simple.

[cupoftea]

Civilised

[wilting]

North America, Western Europe and Australia + New Zealand.

Simple.

What about south america? How is it not western? Or Central and Eastern Europe, including Russia?

There's a mix up here between cultural and political concepts, the term 'west' should really be a cultural rather than political one.

Personally I think its better to move away from the idea of the 'west' and move towards an idea of the liberal democratic world, which would obviously include Japan etc.

We should all be part of a single federal entity, with the ultimate goal of rendering the UN irrelevant.

[Farnan]

The "Western" world are nations whose cultural philosophy is descended from the Enlightenment.

[wilpuri]

The "Western" world are nations whose cultural philosophy is descended from the Enlightenment.

So the west did not exist before the enlightenment?

The West is descended from Western Christianity.

[Farnan]

So the west did not exist before the enlightenment?

The West is descended from Western Christianity.

The Modern West didn't...

So Ghana is part of the West?

How about East Timor?

Equatorial Guinea?

Seychelles?

Rwanda?

Nambia?

Zambia?

Kenya?

I think you get my point.

[Boyar Son]

And here i am thinking western world meant anything west of Ural mountains (excluding Africa) and ending at Nevada, USA (sink into the pacific commiefornia).........

[Wolfgang von Zweibrücken]

I count Japan as a Western country, and South Korea, if not Western, is close. Basically, it just means a First World country that possesses or has adopted European culture. Both Japan and SK fit that description, as do America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

China, India, South Africa and Brazil, for instance, do not fit that description.

[swabian]

I count Japan as a Western country, and South Korea, if not Western, is close. Basically, it just means a First World country that possesses or has adopted European culture. Both Japan and SK fit that description, as do America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

This.

[removeduser_052420]

Japan does not follow European culture.

[Wolfgang von Zweibrücken]

Japan does not follow European culture.

Japan adopted European culture in the 19th century as part of a modernization program, and have been far more western-thinking than any other asian country since that time. To this day they have the deadlocked parliamentary government, aging population and sluggish economy that are emblematic of the Western World. The cultural differences between Japan and America, say, are only slightly greater than those between America and Ukraine or Finland.

Unless you are arguing that modern Japanese culture is a natural evolution of the Samurai period?

[removeduser_052420]

Japan adopted European culture in the 19th century as part of a modernization program, and have been far more western-thinking than any other asian country since that time. To this day they have the deadlocked parliamentary government, aging population and sluggish economy that are emblematic of the Western World. The cultural differences between Japan and America, say, are only slightly greater than those between America and Ukraine or Finland.

Unless you are arguing that modern Japanese culture is a natural evolution of the Samurai period?

So? Just because Japan has a deadlocked parliament and aging population doesn't mean that they follow european culture. Japanese culture and thinking is much different as compared to that of the West.

[Wolfgang von Zweibrücken]

So? Just because Japan has a deadlocked parliament and aging population doesn't mean that they follow european culture. Japanese culture and thinking is much different as compared to that of the West.

You picked out the only weak part of the argument - which was essentially flavor text - and ignored the parts you could not dispute. Did or did not Japan adopt European culture in the late 19th century? Do you or do you not consider modern Japanese culture to be a natural evolution of the Samurai-era?

[removeduser_052420]

You picked out the only weak part of the argument - which was essentially flavor text - and ignored the parts you could not dispute. Did or did not Japan adopt European culture in the late 19th century?

Adopting western style democracy does not equal adopting western culture.

Do you or do you not consider modern Japanese culture to be a natural evolution of the Samurai-era?

Uh... No?

[Manco]

And as you can see, no clear cut definition.

Regardless of definition, Western Europe and North-America are always part of it.

[VALIS]

Countries with predominantly white people.