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.
Before the Cold War, "Western Europe" was used to describe France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
During the Cold War, when Western Europe designated the countries that are part of the NATO treaty and under American influence, the term was often used as a counterbalance to Eastern Europe that was under Soviet influence. The borders between Western and Eastern countries were securely defended, especially on the Eastern side. These borders 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:
- the Nordic countries (Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark)
- the Alpine countries (Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Slovenia)
- the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg)
- the British Isles (Ireland, the United Kingdom)
- France and Monaco
- the Iberian peninsula (Spain, Andorra, Portugal)
- the Apennine peninsula (Italy, San Marino, Vatican City)
- 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.