If you were asked to describe a country like Canada, Egypt, or Indonesia, you could possibly start by categorizing it by civilization. We’ve had numerous civilizations throughout history and continue to host many today. North Americans and most Europeans belong to Western Civilization. So do Australians and New Zealanders.
A civilization is defined according to three themes:
- its belief system (usually religious)
- its economic system
- its form of government
* There are other cultural influences like food, rule of law, and social customs that we’re ignoring for the purpose of this article.
Western Civilization
Western Civilization is based on Judeo-Christian beliefs, free-market capitalism, and democracy. In contrast, Arab civilization is based on Muslim beliefs, economies that are largely state run, and governments that are either dictatorships or monarchies.
Civilization refers to a country’s style, as opposed to its geographic location. Canada and New Zealand certainly aren’t neighbours but we think alike.
America
Okay, so how would you define America? America is a country within Western Civilization that subscribes to Judeo-Christian beliefs, free-market capitalism, and its constitutional democracy.
Canada
Canada also belongs to Western Civilization but is less religious, employs less of a free-market ideology, and has a different form of democracy (we use the Westminster system). So we’re unique from the United States but still part of the same civilization. The same could be said about France. France is also westernized but their people are even less religious and less adherent to free markets than we are.
So civilization is a general belief system that’s open to regional interpretation.
China
Let’s compare all this to 1950s China. China then, was not a member of Western Civilization—they had their own. They abolished religion and believed in individual servitude to the state; had a command economy, where all companies were operated by the state; and government was based in communism.
This is a very different style than the one held by the West. Now eventually, when faced with starvation, China converted its economy to quasi-capitalism—but their current thinking still leaves them on their own.
ISIS
ISIS is currently attempting to create a new civilization. One that embodies the religious, economic, and political beliefs of Wahhabi Islam. Commentator Bill Maher says not only is the West different from others—it’s better. And most westerners agree.
So is ISIS a threat to our civilization and way of life? And is combating ISIS like fighting the war once waged against communism? Questions like these are beyond the scope of this site but now you know what everyone is talking about.