The Concepts of Eastern and Western Europe

[Tahuti]

"Eastern Europe" as it is commonly used in the media today is an anachronistic term which in effect represents a linguistic attempt to maintain a historically aberrant division of Europe into two blocks.

It's idiotic for so many reasons which I explained so many times on this forum that anybody with some grasp of contemporary world affairs should use it very very very carefully.

Well, Eastern European countries often have a set of common political cultures and geographical characteristics that set it apart from Western Europe:

1) They did not receive immigration from Muslim countries and developing countries since these countries did not compete in international markets to the same extent the West did in the 1960s and 1970s. Immigration thus plays a marginal role in Eastern European politics.
2) Due to the trauma's associated with government planning and the Communist era, there is a consensus towards economic libertarianism, left-and-right, as well as Pro-American outlook in foreign policy.
3) They are more anti-Russian than Western European countries, Russia being culturally European, but geopolitically Asian. They are more or less sandwiched between Russia one hand, and Germany, Italy and France, who seek rapproachement with Russia, relying on Russian gas, and Russia relying more on them for its profits.

Former East-Germany wouldn't consitute Eastern European, since it has assimilated to the 'West German' political culture.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Do we really need to have this inane debate again?

If there isn't a topic about Eastern Europe for at least one month, the rumours say that CFC will turn to ruin and rampant wolves will start eating the firstborn of all who did not participate in the last topic about East Europe.

 

[Domen]

BTW - when it comes to Central Europe. Central Europe is obviously the area located in the centre of Europe. There is no widespread consensus on where is the centre of Europe, but wikipedia article "Geographical midpoint of Europe" lists these 9 suggested midpoints of Europe (according to various calculations). If we connect most extreme of these 9 points with lines, then the area limited by these lines can be considered Central Europe:

 

[Traitorfish]

What definition of "Central Europe" includes Minsk but excludes Vienna?

 

[gay_Aleks]

Oh, for Christ's (gay?) sake. Not Central Europe again.

 

[Domen]

Culturally Austria and Hungary belong to Central Europe of course. Slovenia too.

 

[Traitorfish]

Oh, for Christ's (gay?) sake. Not Central Europe again.

Central Europe, which is to the East of Eastern Europe and the South of Western Europe, all of which are contained within North Africa.

Culturally Austria and Hungary belong to Central Europe of course. Slovenia too.

It's hard to see what how Vienna is more closely tied to Minsk than Paris, or Minsk more closely tied to Vienna than Moscow. It seems not merely a contrived category, but an actively confusing one.

 

[Domen]

It's hard to see what how Vienna is more closely tied to Minsk than Paris,

Vienna is not tied to Paris at all. Neither is Minsk - of course.

or Minsk more closely tied to Vienna than Moscow.

Minsk is more closely tied to Vilno and to Warsaw than to Moscow.

==================================

BTW - I don't know to which city is Glasgow tied (if it is tied to any), but surely not to Paris.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Central Europe, which is to the East of Eastern Europe and the South of Western Europe, all of which are contained within North Africa.

You forgot the Moon, and a significant part of the Milky Way. Probably a bit of Alpha Centauri, too.

 

[Oruc]

BTW - when it comes to Central Europe. Central Europe is obviously the area located in the centre of Europe. There is no widespread consensus on where is the centre of Europe, but wikipedia article "Geographical midpoint of Europe" lists these 9 suggested midpoints of Europe (according to various calculations). If we connect most extreme of these 9 points with lines, then the area limited by these lines can be considered Central Europe:

Spoiler :

lies Domen here is the centre of Europe

 

[gay_Aleks]

The Byron quote is best, if you consider he took part in the Greek Uprising in 1821 and actually died there.

 

[Domen]

This:

 

[Oruc]

Not a single quote in that map Domen! A paltry effort

 

[gay_Aleks]

I'd say that Greece* belongs more to South Europe than to the Balkans, and that the term "Balkans" should apply only to the ex-Yugoslavia countries which didn't partake on the whole Communism business for too long.

*Which, in one of my Geography textbooks was showed as part of Western Europe. Hilarious!

 

[Domen]

Why should I quote British Islanders (i.e. Non-Europeans) when it comes to boundaries of Europe?

That previous map contains almost exclusively meaningless quotes of British Islanders.

And sorry but British Isles are not even part of the European Continent.

I'd say that Greece* belongs more to South Europe than to the Balkans

Let's think about it... ... ... ... No. It belongs more to the Balkans.

and that the term "Balkans" should apply only to the ex-Yugoslavia countries

If history of the Balkans is 24 hours, then history of Yugoslavia is maybe 30 seconds.

So why should Yugoslavia mean anything ??? It is meaningless.

 

[Oruc]

I'd say that Greece* belongs more to South Europe than to the Balkans, and that the term "Balkans" should apply only to the ex-Yugoslavia countries which didn't partake on the whole Communism business for too long.

*Which, in one of my Geography textbooks was showed as part of Western Europe. Hilarious!

People like to include Greece because of the Athenian democracy

 

[gay_Aleks]

Why should I quote British Islanders (i.e. Non-Europeans) when it comes to boundaries of Europe?

That previous map contains almost exclusively meaningless quotes of British Islanders.

And sorry but British Isles are not even part of the European Continent.

By your logic, Philippines, Japan and Indonesia (well, you might as well make that argument here) aren't part of Asia.

Hi! My name's La Manche and I would like to tell you about the marvels of engineering.

People like to include Greece because of the Athenian democracy

Off to label Mediterranean Europe with a big huge "THE ROMAN EMPIRE". Might take a while.

 

[Domen]

They are part of Asia but not of Continental Asia.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Then Peloponesses and Crete isn't European.

Geography =/= Politics, which is what we're talking 'bout.

 

[Oruc]

Why should I quote British Islanders (i.e. Non-Europeans) when it comes to boundaries of Europe?

That previous map contains almost exclusively meaningless quotes of British Islanders.

And sorry but British Isles are not even part of the European Continent.

Stop being butthurt Domen, you're the wests advanced outpost you should be proud!