>>>>With western countries, I meant countries with a western political (democratic), legal and social orientation. Most of Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand are examples of an often used examples of western countries. South America does not fall under this definition.
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>>>Why not??? Why South America does not fall under your definition?
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>>It is not my definition, it is what we up here define as western countries. As for the reasoning, I think it has also a more historical component to it.
>
>Well, I think whoever defined it like that is wrong or you misinterpreted it.

I actually tried to look it up, but there isn't any fixed definition of western world/countries/civilization. See wikipedia on the topic.

I've always used the definition that those countries that are strongly related to the western-european countries ( (such as Canada, US, Australia, NZ. etc.., and of course european countries themselves) are western countries, but there are so many definitions that it becomes confusing whenever the term western country is used.

Perhaps its better to talk about the top x of developed countries instead.

Walter,