länsimaailma

The länsimaailma, or Western world, refers to a constellation of countries whose political and cultural heritage is rooted in Western Europe and the settler societies of North America. In scholarly and political discourse it denotes a liberal, market-based model characterized by democratic governance, individual rights, the rule of law, and extensive global cultural influence. The borders are not fixed; the concept includes nations with strong Western institutions and ties, even if geography varies.

Its emergence is historically linked to classical antiquity revival, Christian and medieval legacies, the Enlightenment, and industrialization, culminating in the modern period. After World War II Western states formed security and economic alliances, promoted liberal democracy, capitalism, human capital development, and transatlantic cooperation, shaping a global order centered on Western norms.

Core features include constitutional democracies, pluralistic societies, market-oriented economies, high human development, robust higher education and scientific research, rule of law, secular governance, free press, and widespread use of shared cultural codes, languages, media, and consumer infrastructure.

In global affairs the länsimaailma has driven globalization, international aid, and trade; it maintains institutional influence through structures such as NATO, the European Union, OECD, IMF, and World Bank. Its cultural export—film, music, technology—has international reach.

The concept faces critiques for Eurocentrism and cultural essentialism, oversimplification of internal diversity, and the persistence of inequalities within and among Western societies. Global power shifts and the rise of other regions have led to debates about the political relevance and boundaries of the Western world.