Western Europe
Western Europe is distinguished from
Central and
Eastern Europe by geography and by differences of history and culture. However, these boundaries are subject to considerable overlap and fluctuation, which makes differentiation difficult. The concept of Western Europe is also associated with
liberal democracy; its countries are generally deemed to be well within the cultural hegemony of the
United States of America.
Up to
World War II, "Western Europe" was thought to comprise
France, the
British Isles and
Benelux. These countries represented the
democratic victors of both world wars, and their ideological approach was spread further east as a natural consequence.
During the
Cold War, when Western Europe designated the democratic countries that were part of
NATO and under
American influence, the term was often used as a counterbalance to
Eastern Europe that was under
Soviet influence. Although
Finland,
Sweden and
Switzerland were not formally NATO-allied, with their
market economy and democratic institutions dated centuries back, they clearly belonged to the group. The borders between Western and Eastern countries were securely defended, especially on the Eastern side. This border were also called the
Iron Curtain.
Until the
enlargement of the European Union of
2004,
Western Europe was often associated with that Union (possibly with the exception of
Greece). Today, the connection to
NATO or to the
European Union may by many people be perceived as historical, who rather define
Western Europe as including the following regions:\n* the
Nordic countries (
Iceland,
Norway,
Sweden,
Finland,
Denmark)\n* the
Alpine countries (
Germany,
Switzerland,
Liechtenstein,
Austria,
Slovenia)\n* the
Benelux countries (
Belgium, the
Netherlands,
Luxembourg)\n* the
British Isles (
Ireland, the
United Kingdom)\n*
France and
Monaco\n* the
Iberian peninsula (
Spain,
Andorra,
Portugal)\n* the
Apennine peninsula (
Italy,
San Marino,
Vatican City)\n* in many contexts also
Greece and
Cyprus
It ought to be borne in mind that this kind of concepts, for Europe's division, are overlapping. The
Nordic countries being counted to
Western Europe does not at all hinder their being considered part of
Northern Europe at the same time. Similarly, the
Alpine countries may be considered part of
Central Europe, and
Italy, the Iberian countries, Monaco, Greece and southern France part of
Southern Europe as well, as defined by their proximity to the
Mediterranean Sea.
Further readings
- Bader, William B. "The Future of Area Studies: Western Europe." Society 22 (May-June 1985): 6-8. EJ 317 736.
- Baker, John A. "The North Atlantic Treaty Organization at 40." Social Education 53 (February 1989): 109-112. EJ 386 460.
- Bruce, Michael G. "Teaching For and About Europe." Phi Delta Kappan 65 (January 1984): 364-66. EJ 291 519.
- Bruce, Michael G. "Europe in European Curricula." Phi Delta Kappan 68 (March 1987): 551-52. EJ 349 197.
- Daltrop, Anne. Politics and the European Community. 2nd edition. New York: Longman, 1986.
- DePorte, Anton W. The Atlantic Alliance at 35. New York: Foreign Policy Association, 1984. ED 270 372.
- Gagnon, Paul. Democracy's Untold Story: What World History Textbooks Neglect. Washington, DC: American Federation of Teachers, 1987. ED 313 268.
- Hallstein, Walter. Europe in the Making. London: George Allen and Unwin, 1972.
- Metcalf, Fay, and Catherine Edwards.Materials for Teaching about Europe: An annotated Bibliography for Educators. Washington, DC: Atlantic Council of the United States, 1986. ED 272 439.
- Schuchart, Kelvin. "The European Economic Community." Social Studies 77 (January-February 1986): 19-22. EJ 335 130.
- Shennan, Margaret. "Goals for Teaching About Europe." The Social Studies 77 (January-February 1986): 8-12. EJ 335 127.
- Stillwell, Neil C. Teaching about Western Europe: A Resource Guide. Bloomington, IN: ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education, 1988. ED 302 494.
See also
\n* Western European Union\n* Western world
External link
\n* Teaching about Western Europe
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