scipian
Czar
Technically, I'd just say Japan, Israel, US, Australia, Canada, and Western Europe. But I agree with the little beautiful maps to a large.
Your Defenition of "the west"
- Thread starter Elta
- Start date
BirraImperial
Pura Vida!
A lot of people here are confusing "Western" with "Developed" or "Democratic"
The concept of the Western World is a matter of culture, not economical or political. Japan is clearly not from the western world, even if they are a developed nation, because their culture is very different from the Americas/Europe.
The concept of the Western World is a matter of culture, not economical or political. Japan is clearly not from the western world, even if they are a developed nation, because their culture is very different from the Americas/Europe.
Trajan12
Deity
How on Earth would Japan be western? Or any Asian country for that matter.
Perfection
The Great Head.
They like Capitalism, Democracy and Golf, the three pillars of western civilization.
The Last Conformist
Irresistibly Attractive
I thought the pillars were Capitalism, Democracy, and Playboy?
Didn't the "West" originate in Europe? As in the countries in Western Europe as opposed to the less developed and sometimes communist countries in the East.
Judging by this map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Europe_religion_map_en.png I would say that the "Western" countries are generally those that are Protestant or Catholic.
A common understanding of Western Europe in modern times. (from Wikipedia, of course)
Judging by this map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Europe_religion_map_en.png I would say that the "Western" countries are generally those that are Protestant or Catholic.
A common understanding of Western Europe in modern times. (from Wikipedia, of course)
brachy-pride
Warlord
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
- Messages
- 123
The western world is europe, and all their former colonies in which they were able to impose their languages and christianity.
Being western has nothing to do with economic development, it is cultural.
If latin america is not western, it may be because some countries have strong pre columbian non western amerindian cultures like Guatemala or Bolivia who have maya and aymara/quechua majorities.
But not because those countries are not developed.
Argentina was a developed country from the 1880´s till the 1970´s, and their population is mainly made of european immigrants, were they western back then but not now that they are poor?
Being western has nothing to do with economic development, it is cultural.
If latin america is not western, it may be because some countries have strong pre columbian non western amerindian cultures like Guatemala or Bolivia who have maya and aymara/quechua majorities.
But not because those countries are not developed.
Argentina was a developed country from the 1880´s till the 1970´s, and their population is mainly made of european immigrants, were they western back then but not now that they are poor?
amadeus
Bishop of Bio-Dome
If you'd say that both Sweden and Portugal are Western, why not Japan? What common, yet deeply-rooted cultural traditions do Sweden and Portugal share? Aside from Christianity (of which they don't even practice it the same way) I can't imagine anything else.
You and I might have different ideas about this; I think mostly of popular culture, economics, and where public policy is concerned. The fact that Japan had samurai 300 years ago or that Portugal was a major sea power in the 1500s more or less has little effect on my life as it happens today, so I don't even really think about those things.
Gr3yL3gion
Voice of Madness
Countries that think they're superior than others.
greekguy
Missed the Boat
The West is superior to non-Western nations, both economically, politically, and socially.
Commie #4522
Prince
Yes I am glad someone else understands not everyone's values are universal.
Elta
我不会把这种
Socially ...well by our defenition - I am sure more of them would rather live here but, that is on a economical and political stablity grounds. I think whether one culture is superiour to another socialy is totaly dependent on your opinion of which one you were raised in. If you go by numbers refering to things like rape and murder then...well I'll give you that one - allthou there may be more of that here.
Commie #4522
Prince
Wow, what an offensive, close minded and rasist comment.. if I ever seen one.
greekguy
Missed the Boat
see the thing is i don't view "Western" as a culture. Western to me is modern, first world nations that practice democracy, capitalism, secularity, and grants basic human rights and freedoms. that's why, IMO the West is superior to countries that are not "Western".
amadeus
Bishop of Bio-Dome
GoodEnoughForMe
n.m.s.s.
It was actually true. Seriously, how does saying one is more economically powerful help to constitute racism? Someone has been listening to Jesse Jackson way too much.
The west is better in all those ways.
Elta
我不会把这种
Human rights are important (and better) to me too. But from what I can tell there are some ULTRA religous coutries where people would rather have god over human rights .... in their opinion I am sure they think of them selfs as superiour in a social sense.
Allthou I feel there is no denying that ur governemnts are more stable (politicaly ...less coups etc etc) and economicly.
Elta
我不会把这种
amadeus
Bishop of Bio-Dome
Shall I repost your statements about homosexuals?
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