Which countries are "The West"

[Nizark]

Hey, this is a silly question, but can someone list who exactly is incorporated in 'The West' these days? I mean, with alliances going every which way, countries being bought off for their support, old rivalries coming up again and so on, who exactly is 'the west' besides the US and UK? I am probably thinking too much like an American, but when groups like Al qaeda say they want to destroy the west and israel, im curious, who is on our team?

They probably speak of the west as in he Wests Ideals. Mainly countries in Western Europe and North America including Australia.
*edit
And New Zealand

[Sayeret]

I always thought Europe, Israel, New Zealand, and Australia were considered part of the West.

[moughoun]

Originally Posted by EvanLloyd

They probably speak of the west as in he Wests Ideals. Mainly countries in Western Europe and North America including Australia.
*edit
And New Zealand

That would be allof Europe

Originally Posted by Sayeret

I always thought Europe, Israel, New Zealand, and Australia were considered part of the West.

Technically Israel is considered the west in terms of its ideals. BUt its sort of out of place in the west in terms of itys inner conflicts. I really dont know. Its something to think about.

Originally Posted by moughoun

That would be allof Europe

I woudlnt consider a country like Romania or Moldovia to be considered part of the west. thats why i stated Western Europe as opposed to all of Europe.

[moughoun]

Originally Posted by EvanLloyd

I woudlnt consider a country like Romania or Moldovia to be considered part of the west. thats why i stated Western Europe as opposed to all of Europe.

The Romanian's might take exception to that, they are joining the EU in 2007

Originally Posted by moughoun

The Romanian's might take exception to that, they are joining the EU in 2007

Yeh but there are still Europes poorest country arent they?

[Secret Squirrel]

"The west" is kind of an outdated cold war term. On one side you had "the west" and the other side you had "the cold front". Terrorists use it to refer to "western ideas" like democracy, among other characteristics.

[Khabbi]

North America ,Europe , Israel ( isnt Israel in europe ? ) , NZ and OZ .

[rafaelcb]

Originally Posted by EvanLloyd

Yeh but there are still Europes poorest country arent they?

No. Albania is much poorer. Bulgaria is about the same as Rumania. I don't know exactly about the ex-yugoslavia countries, but I think Serbia and Bosnia also have big economic problems.

Anyway, the most 'west' of all EU countries is of course Portugal... Or should we consider Iceland as part of Europe?

What aboiut countries like Japan, SIngapore, Taiwan, SK? All countries with high GDP. Are they also considered the west?

[n4292936]

Originally Posted by moughoun

That would be allof Europe

gotta agree with Moughoun on that one, all of Europe.
Aus and NZ are a bit trickier. NZ is geographically more of the south pacific (like Tahiti and New Caledonia) than the west, and Aus is between that and southeast asia. In terms of their values and cultural heritage however, they are both part of "the west".

One thing I dont like about the current Aus government is that they seem content to ignore geographic realities. Keating handled regional relations better, regardless of the public's sentiments on the issue

What aboiut countries like Japan, SIngapore, Taiwan, SK? All countries with high GDP. Are they also considered the west?

gdp has nothing to do with how western a country is. None of those countries are even remotely western. "The West" in common parlance is used to denote cultural affinities, not geography per se.

Originally Posted by n4292936

gotta agree with Moughoun on that one, all of Europe.
Aus and NZ are a bit trickier. NZ is geographically more of the south pacific (like Tahiti and New Caledonia) than the west, and Aus is between that and southeast asia. In terms of their values and cultural heritage however, they are both part of "the west".

One thing I dont like about the current Aus government is that they seem content to ignore geographic realities. Keating handled regional relations better, regardless of the public's sentiments on the issue

gdp has nothing to do with how western a country is. None of those countries are even remotely western.

But after WW2, wasnt Japan sort of softly persuaded to turn Western? It would explain their fascination with every that is and in some cases "Isnt" western. Ala baseball, pop music, blue jeans.....Super fun happy hour!

[Gatling]

I'm sorry , I don't know how to say it differently, but all the countries predominantly populated by white people. In the case of Israel though , I 'm not sure.