The West

The West / The Western world refers to countries in Western Europe, North America, and Australasia that share specific historical, cultural, and political roots, rather than strictly matching geographic coordinates.

Key Characteristics of the West

• Core Regions: Generally includes Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. • Historical Ties: Rooted in Western European heritage, Roman law, Judeo-Christian values, the Enlightenment, and settler-colonial histories. • Not Strictly Geographic: Geographically, some Western nations (like Australia and New Zealand) sit deep in the Eastern or Southern hemispheres, while parts of Latin America—despite being in the Western Hemisphere—are often categorized separately.

The Distinction from "Eastern" or "Non-Western"

• Cultural vs. Compass: The terms "East" and "West" are geopolitical and civilizational labels. • Non-Western: This broad group encompasses regions like East Asia, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East (West Asia), and parts of Eastern Europe or Latin America, depending on the sociological or statistical model used (such as definitions by national statistics offices like Statistics Netherlands).