This is true to a lesser extent in much of Europe, but especially so in the east. Combined, they contain more than half of Western Europes population. That brings us to their greatest trait: resilience. Particularly sharp differences emerge when comparing attitudes in countries historically associated with Eastern vs. Western Europe. 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. Therefore, do not misunderstand the information. The top 25 rapid-growth markets, or RGMs, will continue to contribute nearly half of the worlds growth over the next three years. Germany is the most populous country in Western Europe, with a population of approximately 83 million, while France has a population of about 63 million. All rights reserved. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 Fully nine-in-ten Russians, for instance, oppose legal same-sex marriage, while similarly lopsided majorities in the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally. In Bosnia, roughly half of the population is Muslim, while Russia and Bulgaria have sizable Muslim minority populations. And in a few countries, including Russia, Christians have increased as a percentage of the population. In this region may Catholics and Protestant Christians can be seen. During the twentieth century, few regions on the planet suffered as much as Eastern Europeans. 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.. The EU and NATO seek to further expand into Eastern Europe, while Russia hopes to halt any further NATO or EU expansion, and regain the influence that it had over the countries of the subregion during the Cold War. And Protestantism is the dominant Christian tradition in much of Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. When examining the culture and society of the countries of Eastern Europe, a clear difference can be seen in family structures. The Cold War ended about 30 years ago but many of the differences between eastern and western Europe remain. Is Christianity a European value? What about secularism? All human development, from large cities to small towns, shines light into the night sky. During the twentieth century, few regions on the. While public opinion on the importance of religion, birthplace and ancestry to national identity is different in Central and Eastern Europe than it is in the West, people throughout the continent largely agree on some other elements of national belonging. 2Americans tend to prioritize individual liberty, while Europeans tend to value the role of the state to ensure no one in society is in need. Europe has strong social safety nets and this further reduces the level of stress in people's lives. Greece is located in south-east Europe! 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. For some, it conjures up the continents Christian heritage; for others, it connotes a broader political liberalism that encompasses a separation between church and state, asylum for refugees, and democratic government. Teens Take After Their Parents Religiously, Attend Services Together and Enjoy Family Rituals, How do European countries differ in religious commitment? People throughout the continent say it is important to respect national institutions and laws and speak the dominant national language to be a true member of their country, but Central and Eastern Europeans are especially likely to say that nativist elements of national identity being born in a country and having family ancestry there are very important. They also tend to have thicker eyebrows than other ethnic groups. And in Georgia, 92% of adults say it is important to speak Georgian to truly share their national identity. Eastern European men at least (since they tend to have shorter hair than their women of course) are most easily identified by their skulls than their facial features compared to Western European men. For the sake of argument, it is probably safe to say that there are up to 9 countries that could be considered part of Central Europe. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice.. Y-DNA Haplogroup N is closely linked with the spread of Finno-Ugric / Uralic speaking peoples all across Northern Eurasia, so its no surprise that 64.1% of Finnish males belong to Haplogroup N out of a sample of 2596 men nation wide. Although Eastern Europeans havent learned how to market their declining populations as a positive attribute, they can show the world the vast benefits of everyone getting more elbowroom. In Western Europe, by contrast, most people dont feel that religion is a major part of their national identity. In addition, East Asia doesn't emphasize makeup the same way Western countries do; Asian makeup trends tend to have a larger focus on skin care. I feel like its a lifeline. In Ukraine, for example, more people say they are Christian now (93%) than say they were raised Christian (81%); the same is true in Russia, Belarus and Armenia. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Other parts of the world where Pew Research Center has conducted in-depth surveys of religious beliefs and practices include. Western Europe: Western Europe refers to the western part of Europe. Transport, accommodation, and food tend to be less expensive than in Western Europe. Measuring aspects like the distance between the eyes and skin tone, the technology is. Across the continent, Europeans mostly say religion and government should be kept separate. Lithuania (33% flat tax) and Latvia (25%) followed. 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 Methods 2.1. In America, the only pedestrian zones are in our spiritless shopping malls. This is especially true in Western Europe, which is more secular than other parts of Europe. People often describe a decreasing population as a problem or a demographic crisis. However, a forever-increasing population is a doomed Ponzi scheme. However, the sample sizes in most countries do not allow for a detailed analysis of the attitudes of people in these groups. Thus, to claim that Eastern Europe is an antiquated or meaningless term because Eastern European nations have no longer anything in common is wrong. Theres one characteristic that all Eastern Europeans share, from Finland to Macedonia, from Slovenia to Ukraineits toughness. 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. These differences emerge from a series of surveys conducted by Pew Research Center between 2015 and 2017 among nearly 56,000 adults (ages 18 and older) in 34 Western, Central and Eastern European countries, and they continue to divide the continent more than a decade after the European Union began to expand well beyond its Western European roots to include, among others, the Central European countries of Poland and Hungary, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Russian men often have angular faces with prominent noses. Crime is low, even in cities, making Western Europe very safe. Life in Eastern Europe has more and more in common with the West every day, especially in cities, where fast food chains are now common. To keep up with the pace of change, organizations that havent already can benefit greatly from exploring skills-based training. City life is fast-paced and stressful when compared with Europe as a whole. Nations with higher levels of gross domestic product per capita tend to have lower percentages saying religion is very important in their lives. Russian women facial features Russian women tend to have softer features than men. 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. It is where the great, ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome were born. Westerners aim for a fierce and confident look, while Asians are more geared towards a 'light' and more natural look. Along with the inventions of the industrial revolution, countries have been able to gain a high economic development rate. In many Western European countries surveyed, roughly one-fifth of the population expresses belief in reincarnation, a concept more closely associated with Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism than with Christianity. Meanwhile, Americans and Western Europeans are plagued with a Byzantine tax code. But a general East-West pattern is also apparent on at least one other measure of nationalism: cultural chauvinism. Religion plays a less-significant role in everyday life than places like the United States, and the majority do not attend church regularly. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Black Americans. 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. Western Europe is the part of Europe that generally includes the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Eastern Europe is the largest and most populous . But this view is more widespread in Western Europe, while several Central and Eastern European countries are more divided. Many Eastern European cities are not designed around cars, and walking is common. Indeed, Eastern Europeans routinely speak about the West (clumping the US and Western Europe) as if were all the same. Among Caucasians, tanning oil with little SPF is a beach essential while Asians commonly bring sunscreen with high SPF. 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA 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. These rights and principles are part of the EUs legal system and have been affirmed in decisions of the European Court of Justice going back decades.4 But the membership of the EU has changed in recent years, beginning in 2004 to spread significantly from its historic western base into Central and Eastern Europe. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal. Thats ironic because communist countries were known for their bureaucracy, while capitalist ones were known for their efficiency. This is the richest part of Europe, containing the major financial hubs of Paris and London. The region of Eastern Europe consists of people belonging to dozens of ethnic groups, including Poles, Slovaks, European Jewish, Bosniaks, Romani, Croats, Serbs, among many others.Mar 23, 2021 Advertisement What is a European face? FIG. A train in Austria (left) versus Serbia (right). In Central and Eastern Europe, meanwhile, younger and older adults express roughly similar views on this question. By Ferenc Lacz. This part of Europe is by far the richest and contains major financial centers like London and Paris. This pattern holds across the region; young adults in nearly every Central and Eastern European country are much more conservative on this issue compared with both younger and older Western Europeans. Thats why they want to take away from us the right to decide with whom we want to live.. 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. And still others simply lean toward the East on most issues, as Poland does on views of national identity and Muslims, as well as same-sex marriage and abortion. All the countries of Western Europe, with the exception of Switzerland, Monaco, and Liechtenstein, are members of the EU. In fact, the levels of belief in the evil eye across Central and Eastern Europe are comparable to those found in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, where indigenous religions have had a broad impact on the respective cultures. For example, in nearly every Central and Eastern European country polled, fewer than half of adults say they would be willing to accept Muslims into their family; in nearly every Western European country surveyed, more than half say they would accept a Muslim into their family. Theyve fulfilled a capitalist fantasy: simple, predictable taxes. There are substantial populations belonging to non-Christian religions particularly Islam in many European countries. Not too far behind is Spain, which boasts a population of about 46 million. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax It also has the subregions largest economy, which is also the fifth largest in the world. The United Nations Geoscheme divides Europe into 4 subregions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Northern Europe, and Southern Europe. Eastern Europeans are less stressed than Western Europeans. People speak languages with Slavic roots. Move Over BRIC. Moreover, Eastern Europe isnt the global leader on such issues (nor are they the laggard, either). Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms. In general, Eastern Europeans are less stressed out than the West. Eastern Europeans are a gritty, intense, and supernaturally sturdy people. 2015. Relatively large amounts of time are spent with family, and mealtimes are extremely important to many cultures in this area, especially French, Italian, and Greek cultures. Heading south, you find hotter weather along the Mediterranean coast. For a complete analysis of abortion laws in Europe and elsewhere, see . Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. 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. Now, radicalizing illiberal regimes in the East European region, such as those in Poland and Hungary, also pose major political challenges to . Age differences are stronger in Western Europe than in Eastern Europe on this issue: Younger adults across most of Western Europe are more likely than those ages 35 and older to prefer separation of church and state. Majorities favor same-sex marriage in every Western European country surveyed, and nearly all of these countries have legalized the practice. For example, they maintain their traditions, focus on their families, are well-connected to their history, and are hospitable. They also have a small smile that tends to be more angled than Asians. Among the Western European countries surveyed, only in Portugal (44%) do more than three-in-ten say they are absolutely certain that God exists. Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe is comparatively less advanced regarding the economy. 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. In Portugal, for example, the vast majority of adults say that being born in Portugal (81%) and having a Portuguese family background (80%) are very or somewhat important to being truly Portuguese. These sentiments also are widespread among adults in Italy and Spain. He has a Masters in Education, and a Bachelors in Physics. France, Germany, and the Low Countries are also members of NATO. The question is exceedingly complex. Michael Derrer observed another common bond that was neither negative nor positive. Central Europe also contains countries that were on different sides of the east-west divide during the Cold War. During the cold war period, this region was referred to as the Eastern bloc or else the Soviet bloc. Concerning the importance of family background to national identity, there is a bigger gap between young adults in Western Europe and young adults in Central and Eastern Europe than between the adult populations as a whole. Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms, Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza, Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19, Difference Between Salt Bridge and Hydrogen Bond, Difference Between Apple iPad Air and iPad Air 2, Difference Between Conventional Current and Electric Current, What is the Difference Between Body Wash and Shower Gel, What is the Difference Between Ice Pick and Thunderclap Headache, What is the Difference Between Macular Degeneration and Macular Edema, What is the Difference Between Preganglionic and Postganglionic Brachial Plexus Injury, What is the Difference Between Polyhydramnios and Oligohydramnios, What is the Difference Between Laceration and Abrasion. Some of these countries are small and sparsely populated, while others are large and heavily populated. Globally, there is a strong relationship between a countrys wealth and its level of religiosity. Fortunately, however, this bloodshed eventually gave way to happier times. Nordics in eastern Europe, Asia, and North Africa may have been formed by separate recombinations or simple depigmentations of comparable Mediterranean strains, or by invasions of these regions from an European or West Asiatic depigmentation center. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. 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. As our polling has found over the years, Americans and Europeans often have different perspectives on individualism, the role of government, free expression, religion and morality. It helped me pass my exam and the test questions are very similar to the practice quizzes on Study.com. 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 seven Central and Eastern European countries, however, the view that church and state should be separate falls short of a majority position. The other countries of Northern Europe include the countries of Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic States, Ireland, and Iceland. Most of Russias land mass, however, is part of Asia, not Europe, as Russia is a transcontinental country, and has territory in both Europe and Asia. Languages: In many of these countries, the surveys show that people are less receptive to religious and cultural pluralism than they are in Western Europe challenging the notion of universal assent to a set of European values. The rest of this report will look at more cross-regional comparisons, including: Christianity has long been the prevailing religion in Europe, and it remains the majority religious affiliation in 27 of the 34 countries surveyed. The continent of Europe can be divided into two regions as the western and eastern Europe. Like in many places, city life is faster-paced and more stressful. Eastern Europeans are usually very religious, though here, the most common faith is generally Eastern Orthodox. In addition to the importance of religion to national identity, the surveys also asked about several other possible elements of national identity. The Iron Curtain that once divided Europe may be long gone, but the continent today is split by stark differences in public attitudes toward religion, minorities and social issues such as gay marriage and legal abortion. (At the same time, its worth noting that on this and other questions there are differences within Europe too. What is the Physical Geography of Europe? They also have a small smile that tends to be even more angled than Asians. They endured fascism, communism, corruption, economic chaos, invasion, occupation, famine, war, and genocide. On balance, Central and Eastern Europeans also are more likely to say they believe in God, and to express some New Age or folk religious beliefs such as that certain people can cast curses or spells that cause bad things to happen to someone (the evil eye). Tend to be truly Russian and contains major financial centers like London and Paris Macedonia... 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