Difference between revisions of "Western world"

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(Condensed and simplified; non-germane language excluded as this is supposed to be an article defining Western society and culture, not ideological schisms)
 
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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.  
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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.
  
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The term "Western" usually refers to [[NS]] societies based on [[Wikipedia:Europe|Europe]] and its [[Wikipedia:North America|North American]] and [[Wikipedia:Australia|Australian]] descendants. [[Non-human]] and non-white societies of wealthy, [[Wikipedia:developed nation|developed nations]] may also consider themselves "Western" or "Westernized." This definition stands opposed to poor, unindustrialized societies of [[Wikipedia:developing nation|developing nations]] comprising the "[[Third World]]."
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== Definitions ==
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The term ''''Western'''' 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. This excludes [[non-human]] and human non-white societies which ''are'' considered western if the term refers to the democratic, wealthy, industrial, [[Wikipedia:developed nation|developed nation]]s. This definition stands opposed to a poor, unindustrialized "[[Third World]]" with [[Wikipedia:developing nation|developing nation]]s. The term 'Western' is also used by [[The Reich|the Reich]] to describe the members of [[SATO]] and it is used by [[Knootoss]] and, to a lesser extent, [[Pacitalia]], to describe some of their 'ideological allies' in [[KIST]] and the Group of Six. The Republic of [[Syskeyia]] also considers itself to be fully "Western;" oddly enough, however, it also considers itself to be fully "Asian/Oriental," as well, and this had caused much debate in Syskeyian society.
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==Western life and thought ==
 
==Western life and thought ==
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Western countries have in common a high (relative) [[Wikipedia:standard of living|standard of living]] for most citizens - though this is not exclusively something of western nations. They may also have [[Wikipedia:democracy|democratic]], (mostly) secular governments, or otherwise Christian Based; [[Wikipedia:rule of law|rule of law]] and developed bodies of laws that have some expression of [[Wikipedia:right|right]]s (for their own citizens) in law. Also, high levels of education, and a similar, "modern" [[Wikipedia:popular culture|popular culture]] may reflect the Western or Westernized society.  
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Common traits of Western countries and societies may include relatively high [[Wikipedia:standard of living|standards of living]], mostly [[Wikipedia:democracy|democratic]] and secular governments, legal systems affirming the [[Wikipedia:rule of law|rule of law]] and [[Wikipedia:human rights|human rights]], universal educational systems and high literacy rates, and broad access to mass media and modern [[Wikipedia:popular culture|popular culture]]. Western cultural traditions trace their origins to [[Wikipedia:Greek philosophy|Greek thought]] and [[Wikipedia:Judeo-Christian|Judeo-Christian]] morals.
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The term ''Western'' is usually associated with the cultural tradition that traces its origins to [[Wikipedia:Greek philosophy|Greek thought]] and [[Christianity|Christian religion]]. See the Wikipedia entry on [[Wikipedia:Western culture|Western culture]].
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[[Category:Roleplaying]]
 
[[Category:Roleplaying]]

Latest revision as of 13:30, 21 July 2007

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.

The term "Western" usually refers to NS societies based on Europe and its North American and Australian descendants. Non-human and non-white societies of wealthy, developed nations may also consider themselves "Western" or "Westernized." This definition stands opposed to poor, unindustrialized societies of developing nations comprising the "Third World."

Western life and thought

Common traits of Western countries and societies may include relatively high standards of living, mostly democratic and secular governments, legal systems affirming the rule of law and human rights, universal educational systems and high literacy rates, and broad access to mass media and modern popular culture. Western cultural traditions trace their origins to Greek thought and Judeo-Christian morals.

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