Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is widely considered to be a part of the Western world. The modern definition of the Western world is based on cultural, political, and economic identities rather than geographical location. By this definition, the Western world includes countries with cultures strongly influenced by European values and countries with populations descended from European colonists. Australia fits this description as a former British colony that has adopted Western European Christianity and the Latin alphabet. Additionally, Australia shares characteristics with other Western countries, such as a Westminster system of government and a Western approach to music theory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Geography | Australia is geographically located in the Eastern Hemisphere |
| Australia is part of the Pacific Realm, a host of island countries | |
| Australia is known for its dry Outback | |
| Culture | Australia is strongly influenced by European values |
| Australia has a Western approach to music theory | |
| Australia has a Westminster system of government | |
| Australia uses the Latin alphabet | |
| Australia's population includes many people descended from European colonists | |
| Religion | Christianity is the majority religion in Australia |
| Economy | Australia is a capitalist economy |
| Australia has a high GDP per capita | |
| Australia is an industrialized country | |
| Australia has a stable currency | |
| Australia has a robust financial market | |
| Australia has modern infrastructure | |
| Australia is a first-world country | |
| Australia is a developed country |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's adoption of Western European Christianity
Australia is considered a part of the Western world, with its culture strongly influenced by European values and its population including many people descended from European colonists. Australia has adopted Western European Christianity, with Christian festivals like Christmas and Easter marked as public holidays. The European traditions of Christmas trees, roast dinners, carols, and gift-giving are observed by Australians, albeit with a twist to suit the Australian climate, such as conducting Christmas activities between visits to the beach.
The adoption of Western European Christianity in Australia can be traced back to the arrival of the "first fleet", a flotilla of 11 ships under the command of Arthur Phillip that first landed at Botany Bay. This event marked the beginning of British settlement in Australia in 1788 and brought with it the spread of Christianity.
The White Australia Policy, implemented in 1901, further solidified the presence of Christianity in the country. This policy restricted immigration to those of European descent, ensuring that Christianity remained the dominant religion among Australians.
Over time, various Christian denominations have established themselves in Australia, including the Anglican Church of Australia (formerly the Church of England in Australia), the Baptist Church, the Jesuit Catholic Church, and the Anglican Primate of Australia. These churches have played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of the nation.
While Australia has experienced a decline in religiosity, similar to other Western nations, Christianity continues to have a significant influence on its culture and society. The University of Notre Dame Australia, established in 1989, and the integration of Christian symbolism in Australian art, such as the work of artist Leonard French, reflect the enduring presence of Christian traditions in the country. Additionally, Christian values have influenced political issues, with church leaders involving themselves in matters they consider relevant to Christian teachings.
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Australia's use of the Latin alphabet
Australia is considered a part of the Western world, with its culture strongly influenced by European values and its population including many people descended from European colonists. This is despite the fact that Australia is geographically located in the Eastern Hemisphere.
The Latin alphabet evolved from the Etruscan alphabet, which in turn evolved from the Cumaean Greek version of the Greek alphabet. During the classical Latin period, the Latin alphabet contained 21 letters and 2 foreign letters. Several letters have split over time, such as "J" from "I" and "U" from "V," and new letters have been added, such as "W." The Latin alphabet forms the Latin script that is used to write most languages of modern Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.
In Australia, English is the de facto national language, with 72% of Australians speaking it as their first language in 2021. Australian English differs from other varieties in its phonology, pronunciation, lexicon, idiom, grammar, and spelling. It is relatively consistent across the continent, with "General Australian" being the standard dialect free of pronounced regional or sociocultural markers.
The earliest Australian English was spoken by the first generation of native-born colonists in the Colony of New South Wales from the end of the 18th century. These colonists were exposed to a wide range of dialects from across the British Isles, Ireland, the Scottish Highlands, and Wales. The dialects of South East England, including Cockney, were particularly influential in the development of Australian English.
Over time, Australian English has also been influenced by American English, especially with the introduction of vocabulary from the United States during the Gold Rushes and the popularity of American films in the early 20th century. This has resulted in the acceptance of terms like "okay" and "guys" in Australian English.
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Australia's population includes many people descended from European colonists
Australia is widely considered to be part of the Western world. The modern definition of the "Western World" is based on cultural, political, or economic identities rather than geographical location. This definition includes Europe and any countries with cultures influenced by European values or whose populations include many people descended from European colonists.
Australia fits this description as it was a British colony and adopted Western European Christianity (Catholic and Protestant churches), the Latin alphabet, and the English language. Australia's Westminster system of government and Western approach to music theory also reflect European influences.
In addition, Australia shares characteristics with other Western countries, such as a high standard of living, a stable democracy, and a thriving capitalist economy. Australia is also geographically grouped with other Western countries in the Pacific Realm, which includes island countries and the continent of Australia.
The population of Australia includes many people descended from European colonists. The indigenous population of Australia has been significantly impacted by colonisation, and the country continues to grapple with the legacy of this history. Today, Australia is a multicultural nation with a diverse population, including people of various European, Asian, and other ancestries.
It is important to acknowledge that the concept of the "Western world" is complex and has evolved over time. Originally, the Western world referred to the Western Roman Empire, which included Italy and European and African countries to the west of it. The modern definition, which includes Australia, is influenced by a range of cultural, historical, and geopolitical factors.
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Australia's landscape
Australia is considered a part of the Western world, with its culture strongly influenced by European values and its population descended from European colonists. The country's landscape is incredibly diverse, ranging from snow-capped mountains to vast plains and deserts. Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world by area, with a territorial area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (2,968,464 square miles). The country is located within the continent of Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere, and has no land borders.
The geography of Australia can be divided into four major landform regions: the Coastal Plains, the Eastern Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Western Plateau. The Coastal Plains along the eastern seaboard of the mainland are a narrow strip of land from Queensland to Victoria, characterised by flat terrain and relatively high rainfall, making it suitable for human settlement. This area is the most densely populated in Australia.
The Eastern Highlands, which run parallel to the east coast, include mountain ranges such as the MacDonnell and Musgrave Ranges, as well as individual structures like Uluru. The Central Lowlands include the Great Divide, a chain of highlands that separates the rivers flowing west and north from those flowing into the Pacific Ocean.
The Western Plateau, or the Central Depression, is largely desert, with arid and forbidding areas that are rich in mineral wealth. However, appearances can be deceptive, as some of these regions support the world's greatest wool industry. The coastal rim, especially the east coast, deviates from the prevailing flatness and aridity, offering topographic diversity and comparatively fertile land.
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Australia's capitalist economy
Australia is considered a part of the Western world, with its culture strongly influenced by European values and its population including many people descended from European colonists. The country has a highly developed, mixed economy, which is dominated by its service sector.
Economic restructuring has also led to increased income inequality, with the wealthiest 20% earning nearly 50% of the total income by the end of the 1990s. The wealth of the top 200 families climbed from $7.3 billion to $37.3 billion between 1986 and 1996, and in 1992, executives in top companies earned 27 times more than the average worker.
Australia's economy is strongly intertwined with the countries of East and Southeast Asia, with China as its main export and import partner. The country has also entered into free trade agreements with various countries and is a member of economic organisations such as APEC, G20, OECD, and WTO.
Despite the recent decline in the mining sector, Australia's economy has been resilient and stable. The country has a long run of uninterrupted GDP growth, and its banking system was ranked fourth best in the world in 2009. Australia's capitalist economy has been shaped by various factors, including historical processes, global economic crises, and trade relationships with other countries.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia is considered a part of the Western world.
The Western world is a concept that refers to countries with cultures strongly influenced by European values and countries with populations descended from European colonists.
Examples of countries in the Western world include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Some characteristics of the Western world include Christianity as the predominant religion, the use of Indo-European languages, democratic political systems, and capitalist economies.
Australia shares many characteristics with the Western world, including a historical influence of Western European Christianity, the use of the Latin alphabet, a democratic political system, and a high standard of living.
