westerners

Westerners is a broad demonym for people who are culturally, geographically, or historically associated with the Western world. The term is commonly used to describe individuals from Western Europe and regions colonized or heavily influenced by European cultures, including much of North America, Australasia, and parts of Central and South America. The precise boundary of the term varies by context and is not fixed.

Historically, Westerners are linked with the history of Western civilization: classical antiquity, medieval Christendom, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the development of liberal democracy, secular governance, and market-based economies. In contemporary discourse, Western culture is associated with certain social norms and institutions such as pluralism, individual rights, and scientific inquiry, though these features have diversified across countries and over time.

Today, the label is often used in discussions of politics, globalization, or cultural identity. It is not a homogenous category; Westerners differ in language, religion, ethnicity, and political viewpoints. The term can be used descriptively but may also be employed polemically, and some scholars caution against geographic essentialism or overgeneralization.

Some scholars prefer terms such as "the Western world" or "Occident" to highlight cultural networks and historical frames, while acknowledging regional variation and ongoing globalization that blends Western and non-Western influences.