5 ms·

So it's an ethnocentric worldview, right?

joshuapants 12y ago
Yes, the separation of west, east, and perhaps one or more additional categories is one based more on differences in cultural values and norms than purely geography.
- timepiece 12y ago
  I was referring more specifically to the division lines you contrived between Europe/North America on one hand and Central and South America on the other hand even both more or less share the same values and ideals. So it can't be cultural, so it could be ethnocentric and therefore was my question for you.
  - joshuapants 12y ago
    Are you using some new/nonstandard/uncommon use of "ethnocentric" that doesn't involve culture? I'm not sure if you're trying to subtly paint me as a racist, but it seems that way. Europe, North America, and Latin America are all very different in all but a few superficial ways, but I do find that Europe and North America are more like each other than either is like Latin America.
    - sdm 12y ago
      > I do find that Europe and North America are more like each other than either is like Latin America. "Latin America" is very big area and it overlaps with North America. In my experience the most European-like country in the Americas is by far Argentina.
      - joshuapants 12y ago
        I apologize for finding it easier to contrast "Latin America and North America" rather than "Latin America and North America minus the one part of North America that also happens to be Latin American." I thought my meaning was fairly clear. Europe and North America are very big places too. Both have regions with differing cultures to various extents, as well.
a8da6b0c91d 12y ago
It's a North Atlanticist worldview.
slg 12y ago
Probably more geopolitically than ethnocentric. I think due to lingering effects of the Cold War, the term "The West" has colloquially been associated with the original definition of "First World" and means any developed, democratic, capitalist countries (or more specifically those allied with NATO). In that sense, Australia is more western than most of Latin America. It is just like when we say "The South" in the US we are usually referring to the historical and political south (i.e. the Confederate States or more generally the Southeast). You will rarely if ever hear someone refer to somewhere west of Texas as The South.

Yes, the separation of west, east, and perhaps one or more additional categories is one based more on differences in cultural values and norms than purely geography.

timepiece 12y ago
I was referring more specifically to the division lines you contrived between Europe/North America on one hand and Central and South America on the other hand even both more or less share the same values and ideals. So it can't be cultural, so it could be ethnocentric and therefore was my question for you.
- joshuapants 12y ago
  Are you using some new/nonstandard/uncommon use of "ethnocentric" that doesn't involve culture? I'm not sure if you're trying to subtly paint me as a racist, but it seems that way. Europe, North America, and Latin America are all very different in all but a few superficial ways, but I do find that Europe and North America are more like each other than either is like Latin America.
  - sdm 12y ago
    > I do find that Europe and North America are more like each other than either is like Latin America. "Latin America" is very big area and it overlaps with North America. In my experience the most European-like country in the Americas is by far Argentina.
    - joshuapants 12y ago
      I apologize for finding it easier to contrast "Latin America and North America" rather than "Latin America and North America minus the one part of North America that also happens to be Latin American." I thought my meaning was fairly clear. Europe and North America are very big places too. Both have regions with differing cultures to various extents, as well.

a8da6b0c91d 12y ago

It's a North Atlanticist worldview.

slg 12y ago

Probably more geopolitically than ethnocentric. I think due to lingering effects of the Cold War, the term "The West" has colloquially been associated with the original definition of "First World" and means any developed, democratic, capitalist countries (or more specifically those allied with NATO). In that sense, Australia is more western than most of Latin America. It is just like when we say "The South" in the US we are usually referring to the historical and political south (i.e. the Confederate States or more generally the Southeast). You will rarely if ever hear someone refer to somewhere west of Texas as The South.