Is South Cone "Western" ?

[alnortedelsur]

Technically all latin american countries are western, but not in the common usage of the word, which means 'highly developed country'. However Chile is a borderline case, I'd consider it to be in a different economic category from the rest of LA.

That has nothing to do with development but with culture and heritage. All Latin America is western, because its culture is mostly western (even though, in most Latin American countries, they are mostly western but with some added Amerindian and/or African elements). The southern cone, however, is even more "plain western" compared to most of the rest of Latin America.

I see it this way: Latin American is a part of the western civilization, but is just that is a relatively "undeveloped" region of the western world, in the same way that the southeastern US north American states (Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and South Carolina) are like a "a bit poorer" area of United States, but are still part of it.

[alnortedelsur]

I definitely consider Uruguay and Argentina western countries. Never been in Chile or lived there to know their culture well, but I think they could be included too.

What I take for western culture:

Predominant european influence. Freedom of Speech, separation of religion and government, equality in the eyes of law, liberal democracy. Christianity as main religion and considerable levels of atheism. Respect of human rights, promotion of gender equality and LGTB rights. Equal sense of moral, ethics and decency shared by other western countries. etc

All Latin America is part of the western world. I didn't feel "an extraordinary cultural shock" when I left Venezuela, first visiting United States (to visit my older brother and sister when they were studying here), and then settling in Spain (before I came back to live in the states), like if Latin American countries, out of southern cone, were super exotic destinations with very different and exotic cultures. The culture of rest of Latin America out of the southern cone is not "too foreign" to the culture prevailing in undoubtedly western countries like United states, Canada, Europe or the southern cone, like if we were talking about India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, sub-Saharan Africa or who knows what else.

The predominant culture in the rest of Latin America is Spanish-based, and therefore European-based, aside of considerable cultural influences from United States (even if with some accessory, but secondary, Amerindian and/or African elements). Their constitutions are based in the Derecho Romano, and Christianity is also the main religion in all those countries. That's the main part of being part of the west.

And many people in those countries are atheist as well (even though having many atheists or not have not much to do with being western or not). The other values that you mention, like freedom of speech, separation of religion and government, liberal democracy, etc, are also present in the rest of Latin America, but they are something of the present time, not an intrinsic part of being western or not.

Regarding what you mention about respect for human rights, all Latin American countries have had times were human rights were severely violated (including the southern cone countries, with the last military dictatorships) as well as governments that have been more respectful with human rights.

[alnortedelsur]

Parts of the northwst like for example Tucuman/Santiago del Estero can be "Latin American" in the mestizo sense but that is still heavily iberian influenced. I mean a Santiagueño gaucho playing a guitar is not an amerindian costume.

The same goes for most of the rest of Latin America: In the same way that Tucuman/Santiago del Estero are "Latin American" in the mestizo sense of having some considerable Amerindian input in their racial make up, and some accessory native influence in their culture, but are still heavily Iberian influenced, and therefore, still fundamentally western, the same applies for most of the rest of Latin America.

[warrior1994]

Of course, in fact, Chile has a GDP per capita equal to or higher than some European countries, and in cultural terms, Chilean culture is Western.

[Carlito's Way]

not argentina, niggas cant even afford a damn 23andme/AncestryDNA, they consider that a luxury lol

[SardiniaAtlantis]

All of the Americas are considered Western the only few possible exceptions Id see as Bolivia maybe Peru, Suriname, and Guyana.

[Argentano]

not argentina, niggas cant even afford a damn 23andme/AncestryDNA, they consider that a luxury lol

Yes our dream is to be western, very euro and rich like Mexico.

[Carlito's Way]

Yes our dream is to be western, very euro and rich like Mexico.

you cried to Loki brah, you a little mija LOL
you are a sensitive little girl, typical argentine mijita not raised properly with cojones

i dont want to insult you because youll go crying to Loki again LMAOOOOO

[Argentano]

you cried to Loki brah, you a little mija LOL
you are a sensitive little girl, typical argentine mijita not raised properly with cojones

i dont want to insult you because youll go crying to Loki again LMAOOOOO

i dont want an endless internet war. You are correct about that. Not interested at all.

Dont talk about Argentina and we will be fine.

[brennus dux gallorum]

No part of Brazil will ever be Western