Western countries

Western countries (or sometimes the West) is a somewhat imprecisely-defined term for wealthy, industrialised, countries. Depending on context, it may be restricted to the United States of America, Canada, and the parts of Europe that were members of NATO (excluding Turkey) during the Cold War - a broader definition extends to Australia, New Zealand, and perhaps Japan and even Israel.

Western countries have in common a high standard of living for most citizens compared to the rest of the world, democratic, mostly secular governments, high levels of education amongst the general populace, and share much of each other's [popular culture]?. Militarily and diplomatically, they have generally been allied with each other to a greater or lesser extent in most conflicts since [World War Two]?.

Compare OECD, [G7 countries]?, [Eastern bloc]?, Third World, [Pacific Rim countries]?

/Talk