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Wikipedia's "Cultural Definition": "From a cultural and sociological approach the Western world is defined as including all cultures that are directly derived
by corin_ 10y ago
Wikipedia's "Cultural Definition":
"From a cultural and sociological approach the Western world is defined as including all cultures that are directly derived from and influenced by European cultures, i.e. Europe (at least the European Union member states, EFTA countries, European microstates);[31][32] in the Americas (e.g. Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela), and in Oceania (Australia and New Zealand). Together these countries constitute Western society."
I don't think I've ever heard any definition include any African country.
- lifeisstillgood 10y agoI disagree. Japan is frequently referred to as part of "the West" (despite obvious geographical issues). They don't fit this "derived from" idea (which itself seems a suspect concept) I would rather see "western" culture as lead by democracy, freedom, justice and fairness for all under rule of law. It seems better to have a culture where we have a shared destination to strive towards rather than a common ancestry
- corin_ 10y agoJapan is also frequently considered not to be part of "the West", I don't what proportion of people think which way though. I'd never consider them included, and in discussing either marketing or sales in business I've never heard them included as part of the West.
- 794CD01 10y agoNot even South Africa?
- corin_ 10y agoI can't think of any time I've thought of or heard someone speaking of South Africa as a western country. Influenced by the West, sure.
- varjag 10y agoHonestly I hardly heard anyone referring Venezuela or Cuba as the West either. In practice it's really down to Anglo-Saxon + European first world countries.
- semi-extrinsic 10y agoSame goes for North vs South. There is a funny quote by a US president (that I can't seem to find right now) listing some countries in the southern hemisphere, and they're all actually on the northern hemisphere.