When discussing this question, I think one should keep in the forefront that the “West”/“Western” labels are very often—I’d say most often—used as a tool of oppression, including by people who aren’t aware of their own racism (maybe racism isn’t the most precise word here, but it’s the best I can think of). In most cases, I think these conversations are a mug’s game, because how do you know the amount of explicit or implicit racism the other converser’s hold?
Edit to add: It’s like Whiteness in that it’s continually being redefined to suit power dynamics.
When discussing this question, I think one should keep in the forefront that the “West”/“Western” labels are very often—I’d say most often—used as a tool of oppression, including by people who aren’t aware of their own racism (maybe racism isn’t the most precise word here, but it’s the best I can think of). In most cases, I think these conversations are a mug’s game, because how do you know the amount of explicit or implicit racism the other converser’s hold?
Edit to add: It’s like Whiteness in that it’s continually being redefined to suit power dynamics.