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The '''Western world''' is made up of those European countries allied against the former [[Soviet Union]] also known as the Eastern bloc.  The Western world is considered to include Western [[Europe]], the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Japan]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]] (although these latter countries are geographically in the Far East). Other political divisions include the Far East ([[Asia]]n and Southeast Asian countries), the Middle East (typically [[Islam]]ic countries), and the rest of the third world ([[Latin America]] and sub-[[Sahara]]n [[Africa]]).

The '''Western world''' or the Occident, [[Europe]] (western Eurasia), as opposed to the Eastern World (the Orient), Asia (eastern Eurasia), is made up of the countries of Europe, as well as the technologically advanced countries of the Americas that have been influenced (by colonisation or otherwise) tremendously by the France, Spain, Portugal, Russia, the United Kingdom or other European nations.

 

During the cold War, when Russia created the Soviet Union and tried to cut itself off from the rest of the West, the term meant those European countries allied against the former [[Soviet Union]] also known as the Eastern bloc.  The Western world was equated incorrectly with the [[Western Bloc]] to include [[Europe]]an democratic countries, the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]], and [[Japan]] (although the latter countries is geographically in the Far East).

 

Due to historical confusion, term is often confused with [[Western Europe]] or Western Hemisphere.

[[Category: Geography]]

[[Category: Geography]]