At one time, people used to say that the sun never sets on the British Empire, because the British had possessions in every corner of the world. Other questions asked on the survey point to a further East-West values gap with respect to key social issues, such as same-sex marriage and legal abortion. Since that year, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia have joined the EU. Knowing the main aspects of this lesson will allow you to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The United Nations Geoscheme divides Europe into 4 subregions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Northern Europe, and Southern Europe. Even though abortion generally is legal in both Central/Eastern and Western Europe, there are regional differences in views on this topic, too.6 In every Western European nation surveyed including the heavily Catholic countries of Ireland, Italy and Portugal six-in-ten or more adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Meanwhile, far fewer Western Europeans say they are currently Christian than say they were raised Christian. Indeed, in a part of the region where communist regimes once repressed religious worship, Christian affiliation has shown a resurgence in some countries since the fall of the USSR in 1991. The key difference between Western and Eastern Europe is that Eastern Europe consists of countries that once belonged to the Soviet block, unlike the Western European countries. 4. The subregion has a population of about 106 million, which makes it the least populous of the European subregions. This is not to suggest that support for multiculturalism is universal even in Western Europe. Today, most of Eastern Europe is part of the European Union (EU) and NATO. Similarly, Americans are more likely to say offensive statements about minority groups should be permitted. Many Eastern European cities are not designed around cars, and walking is common. Here, life is even more laid-back and relaxed than in the West. The U.N. Geoscheme does not necessarily reflect the former or current geopolitical divisions of Europe. Eastern and Western Europeans Differ on Importance of Religion, Views of Minorities, and Key Social Issues People in Central and Eastern Europe are less accepting of Muslims and Jews, same-sex marriage, and legal abortion The GDP of Romania in year 2017 is $467 billion and PPP is approximately $25000. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. FIG. But in several others, including Poland, Russia and Ukraine, the balance of opinion tilts in the other direction, with respondents more likely to say that abortion should be mostly or entirely illegal. Southern Europe is also home to the worlds smallest and least populous country, Vatican City, which has less than a thousand inhabitants. Thus, Central Europe is a European crossroads of sorts, where different languages and cultures of the continent meet. Western Europe is the part of Europe that generally includes the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. On one side are NATO and the EU. Life in Europe, like anywhere, varies a lot. This is not to say that Central and Eastern Europeans are very religious by conventional measures of religious behavior. The question is exceedingly complex. Similarly, roughly three-in-ten Slovaks, Greeks and Ukrainians say they pray daily, compared with 8% in Austria and Switzerland. Compared with the rest of the world, the entire European continent has relatively low levels of traditional religious practice (e.g., church attendance, prayer), but they are slightly higher in Central and Eastern Europe than in the West. Siestas are increasingly common as you go south. Artists like Van Gogh, Renoir, and Chagall, not to mention some of the worlds greatest orchestras, museums, and galleries. For statistical purposes, the United Nations Geoscheme divides the continent into four different subregions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Northern Europe. Western Europeans also are more likely than their neighbors in the East to say they never pray (e.g., 62% in Denmark vs. 28% in Russia). While majorities in most Central and Eastern European countries tie being Christian to being truly Serbian, Polish, etc. Western Europe has long been regarded as the home of world-renowned cultural icons. Particularly sharp differences emerge when comparing attitudes in countries historically associated with Eastern vs. Western Europe. Is Christianity a European value? What about secularism? All these countries are part of different subregions of Europe as defined by the UN Geoscheme. Latin American Culture & Traditions | What is Latin America? Researchers included Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, the Baltics and the Balkans as part of Central and Eastern Europe because all these countries were part of the Soviet sphere of influence in the 20th century. Thanks to the USSR, there are some large Russian populations and similar cultural attitudes. Just as it is in Western Europe, Germany is also the largest and most populous country in Central Europe. The continental divide in attitudes and values can be extreme in some cases. Theres one characteristic that all Eastern Europeans share, from Finland to Macedonia, from Slovenia to Ukraineits toughness. Religion is central to life, especially in Italy where the Catholic faith is dominant. The UK is the mother country of the once mighty British Empire, one of the most powerful empires in human history. Western Europeans also express belief in God at lower levels than people in Central and Eastern Europe, where large majorities say they believe in God including overwhelming shares in several countries, such as Georgia, Armenia, Moldova and Romania. Europe has strong social safety nets and this further reduces the level of stress in people's lives. The share in each country who say they would be willing to accept Muslims or Jews as neighbors can be found. All the countries of Northern Europe, except the UK, Iceland, and Norway, are now part of the EU. But Czechs also express low levels of acceptance toward Muslims, more closely resembling their neighbors in the East. In Bosnia, roughly half of the population is Muslim, while Russia and Bulgaria have sizable Muslim minority populations. In most of Europe, including the countryside of France, Germany, and Spain, life is relatively laid-back and slow-paced, people work less demanding schedules, and family and mealtimes are central parts of life. Posted on 3rd July 2021 Review of Democracy. While large majorities across the continent say they were baptized Christian, and most European countries still have solid Christian majorities, the survey responses indicate a significant decline in Christian affiliation throughout Western Europe. These are not the only issues dividing Eastern and Western Europe.5 But they have been in the news since a surge in immigration to Europe brought record levels of refugees from predominantly Muslim countries and sparked fierce debates among European leaders and policymakers about border policies and national values. Required fields are marked *. Our findings conclude that European colonization can very well be attributed to the beauty standards across Asia; for much of these regions, the ideal standard of beauty is heavily influenced by the ideal European figure, such as their light skin and light colored eyes. What are the reasons for these opposing patterns on different sides of the continent? Move Over BRIC. In France, only 14% consider religion very important. Eastern European culture is friendly and welcoming: from inviting strangers into your home to offerings of gifts and beverages. Today, it is home to 15 countries. Crime is low, even in cities, making Western Europe very safe. The two sides of Europe do not appear to be moving closer on these questions with younger generations. In Belgium, for example, 55% of respondents currently identify as Christian, compared with 83% saying they were raised Christian. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Eastern Europe shares common positive characteristics that not only distinguish it from Western Europe, but also from most of the world. Southern Europe is where much of Europes history began. When examining the culture and society of the countries of Eastern Europe, a clear difference can be seen in family structures. However, most Europeans have long, narrow noses, prominent cheekbones, hooded and almond-shaped eyes, and thin lips. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. The economy is comparatively lower and less stable than in Western Europe. These are Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Austria, and Switzerland. The United Nations Geoscheme divides Europe into 4 subregions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Northern Europe, and Southern Europe. Moreover, Eastern Europe isnt the global leader on such issues (nor are they the laggard, either). However, these arent just Eastern European traits; they are human traits. Mediterranean Europe is an area that includes Eastern Spain, Southern France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, and Albania. I do appreciate the liberalization in the western world during the past 40 years. Theyve fulfilled a capitalist fantasy: simple, predictable taxes. People in Central and Eastern Europe also are more likely than Western Europeans to say being born in their country and having family background there are important to truly share the national identity (e.g., to be truly Romanian; see here.). For example, most Greeks say they are not willing to accept Muslims in their families; three-quarters consider being Orthodox Christian important to being truly Greek; and nearly nine-in-ten say Greek culture is superior to others. But today, for most people living in the former Eastern bloc, being Christian (whether Catholic or Orthodox) is an important component of their national identity. Europeans throughout the continent generally show far less religious commitment than adults previously surveyed in other regions.8. These are among the findings of Pew Research Center surveys conducted across Central and Eastern Europe in 2015 and 2016 and Western Europe in 2017.7. The Romanian language consists of 75% Latin, 20% Dacian and 5% Slavic. Many of the countries of Eastern Europe were once part of the USSR or were allies of the Soviet Union at one time or another. Yet, at the same time, only about six-in-ten Hungarians believe in God, reflecting Western European levels of belief. He said, Eastern Europe has an untarnished relation to traditional European values. (see here), majorities in all of these countries view being born in their country and having ancestry there as important components of national identity. And in a few countries, including Russia, Christians have increased as a percentage of the population. Russia is by far the largest and most populous country in Eastern Europe. Western Europe (Robinson Project)By Serg!o [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons, 2. Meanwhile, Americans and Western Europeans are plagued with a Byzantine tax code. Sometimes Scandinavia is included due to cultural similarities, sometimes not. One final eastern European facial feature worth mentioning is a fair . Most of Europe's countries are now part of the European Union (EU) and/or NATO. The UK is no longer the juggernaut that it once was, but it is still the most populous country in Northern Europe, with a population of nearly 68 million. In general, Eastern Europeans are less stressed out than the West. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union refers to common values in its preamble, which begins: The peoples of Europe, in creating an ever closer union among them, are resolved to share a peaceful future based on common values. In much of Europe, life is laid-back and slow-paced; people work shorter hours and have lots of time with family. Although there is no longer a physical east-west barrier in Europe, there still exists a faint, but measurable, cultural and economic divide. The cities of Western Europe, especially in the UK, France, and Germany, are responsible for a large proportion of the economic growth, and life there is different from much of the rest of Europe. Leaders often cite European values when defending their stances on highly charged political topics. Tallinns Town Hall square Raekoja Plats in Estonia during the holidays season in 2008, Share Six Enviable Traits From Eastern Europe on Facebook, Share Six Enviable Traits From Eastern Europe on Twitter, Share Six Enviable Traits From Eastern Europe on LinkedIn, Subscribe for counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. In countries that are centrally located on the continent, prevailing attitudes may align with popular opinions in the East on some issues, while more closely reflecting Western public sentiment on other matters. The region, for example, is home to both Slavic-speaking states like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, as well as German-speaking states like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Few people have cause to worry about finding themselves living on the street or having crippling medical bills. (At the same time, its worth noting that on this and other questions there are differences within Europe too. Teens Take After Their Parents Religiously, Attend Services Together and Enjoy Family Rituals, How do European countries differ in religious commitment? Traditional culture can be found in rural areas. For example, 83% of adults in Hungary and 82% of adults in Poland say it is very or somewhat important to have been born in their country to be truly Hungarian or truly Polish. And 72% of Russians say it is important to have Russian family background to be truly Russian.. All of Europes countries are generally classified as developed countries, though some are more developed than others. There is a strong tradition of hospitality in Eastern Europe, and generosity and goodwill are common: from inviting strangers to dinner to offerings of drinks and gifts. But this view is more widespread in Western Europe, while several Central and Eastern European countries are more divided. But in the East, views are more varied. 1 (3 views). A sampling of other topics that are said to divide Eastern and Western Europe, other than those included in this report, include sentiment regarding democracy; the importance of individualism in society, as opposed to collectivism; and overall economic well-being. Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. Accepting one drink may lead to many more, even if that drink is strong; vodka is common. The Eastern European subregion stretches from the Ural Mountains in the east to the western borders of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Europe has strong social safety nets and this further reduces the level of stress in people's lives. Eastern Europe: Most people follow Orthodox Christianity or Islam. For instance, while just 30% in the U.S. think sex between unmarried adults is morally unacceptable, this is nonetheless significantly higher than what our 2013 poll found in Europe. Not only is religious affiliation on the decline in Western Europe, religious commitment also is generally lower there than in Central and Eastern Europe. Further south, on the southern coast of France is the tiny principality of Monaco, which is distinguished by, among other things, being the most densely populated nation-state on Earth. 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