Western world

This article deals with Western world as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.

The term Western world can have multiple meanings depending on its context. It is not so much a geographical definition as it is a cultural and economic one. People differ in their definitions of the West, and different definitions overlap only partly.

It can refer to the NS societies based (by the player) on Europe and their colonial, and philosophical descendants, typically also including those countries whose ethnic identity and dominant culture derive from European culture. It can also refer to the democratic, wealthy, industrial, developed nations, whereas the "third world" refers to the poor, unindustrialized developing nations. The term was used by the Reich to describe the members of SATO and is used by Knootoss to describe some of its 'ideological allies' in KIST.

Western life and thought

Western countries have in common a high (relative) standard of living for most citizens - though this is not exclusively something of western nations. They may also have democratic, (mostly) secular governments, rule of law and developed bodies of laws that have some expression of rights (for their own citizens) in law. Also, high levels of education, and a similar, "modern" popular culture may reflect the Western or Westernized society.

The term Western is usually associated with the cultural tradition that traces its origins to Greek thought and Christian religion. See the Wikipedia entry on Western culture.