Editing Westernization (section)

==Significantly influenced countries==
The following countries or regions experienced a significant influence by the process of Westernization:
*[[Armenia]]:<ref>({{Cite book |last=Garsoïan |first=Nina |title=Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |year=1997 |editor-last=R.G. Hovannisian |volume=1 |page=81 |author-link=Nina Garsoïan}})</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Donald Tusk: "I feel at home in Armenia" |date=2020-09-24 |url=https://mediamax.am/en/news/foreignpolicy/34168/ |work=MediaMax}}.</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=92% of the Armenian public considers relations with the EU as very good, FM says at EaP ministerial |date=2020-09-24 |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/994276.html |work=Armenpress}}.</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Europe Square inaugurated in Yerevan, Armenia |date=2020-09-24 |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/969279.html |work=Armenpress}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The future of the Trio Plus Strategy 2030: building a future of Eastern Partnership |url=http://www.epgencms.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/upload/439b3edc-e523-4a0e-a9bc-e6c8db51ed75/NEST_8th_urgency_resolution_EN.pdf}}</ref> Geographically located in the [[Caucasus]] region of [[West Asia]], Armenia's culture has been increasingly influenced by the process of Westernization. Throughout its history, Armenia has been influenced by Western and Eastern civilizations. Armenia became the first state in the world to adopt [[Christianity]] as its official religion in 301 AD. The traditional Armenian homeland composed of [[Eastern Armenia]] and [[Western Armenia]] came under the rule of the [[Roman Armenia|Roman]], Persian, Arab, Ottoman, and Russian empires. Current Armenia gained its independence in 1991, following the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]]. Today, the [[Government of Armenia]] maintains positive relations with Iran, Russia, and the West, including the United States and the [[EU]]. The country participates in various organizations linked to the EU, such as the [[Eastern Partnership]], the [[Euronest Parliamentary Assembly]] and is a member of the [[Council of Europe]], the [[European Political Community]], the [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe|OSCE]], the [[Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation|BSEC]], [[La Francophonie]], and NATO's [[Partnership for Peace]] and [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]]. In 2017, Armenia signed an extensive agreement with the EU; the [[Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement|CEPA]] agreement further strengthens economic and political ties. Armenia is also a member of various European organisations for sports, education, and cultural events such as [[UEFA]], the [[European Olympic Committees]], and the [[European Higher Education Area]], and participates in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]].
*[[Azerbaijan]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan & the West |date=29 March 2017 |url=https://www.thebusinessyear.com/whats-behind-azerbaijans-shirt-to-the-west/focus}}</ref> Geographically located in the [[Caucasus]] mountain range (natural border between [[Western Asia]] and [[Eastern Europe]]). Azerbaijan borrowed Western traditions mainly as a result of [[Russian Empire|imperial Russian]] influence, with the Muslim world's first [[Opera in Azerbaijan|opera]] and [[Azerbaijan Democratic Republic|secular democracy]] being established there before its [[Red Army invasion of Azerbaijan|invasion by the Soviets]]. Currently, the country participates in various European organizations including the EU's [[Eastern Partnership]], the [[Council of Europe]], and [[GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development|GUAM]]. It is also a member of European organisations for sports such as [[UEFA]] and the [[European Olympic Committees]], and regularly participates in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]]. Despite this, the country remains an [[Democracy Index|authoritarian regime]] with considerable human rights and press freedom issues.
*[[Cape Verde]]:<ref>{{Cite web |work=Afrol News |title=Cape Verde display different interests in integration |url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/18640}}</ref> An insular country in [[West Africa]], Cape Verde has influences of European culture (particularly Portuguese) and, together with the [[Azores]] and [[Madeira]] ([[Portugal]]), and the [[Canary Islands]] ([[Spain]]), it is part of the archipelagos of [[Macaronesia]]. Due to this, the country has shared close diplomatic and cultural relations with both [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberian countries]] and has even tried to approach Western organizations, like the [[European Union|EU]] and [[NATO]].
*[[Hong Kong]], [[Macau]], and [[Singapore]]:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Puga |first=Rogério Miguel |url=https://www.academia.edu/3785763 |title=The British Presence in Macau, 1637–1793 |date=2013 |publisher=[[Hong Kong University Press]] |isbn=978-988-8139-79-8 |series=[[Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|Royal Asiatic Society]] |location=[[Hong Kong]] |language=en |lccn=2013383538 |ol=25637013M |author-link=Rogerio Miguel Puga |access-date=2022-03-22}}</ref> Despite their geographical positions in [[East Asia|East]] and [[Southeast Asia]], due to the heavy influences of [[Culture of Europe|European heritage]] (particularly [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Portugal|Portuguese]]) culture, they are at-least partially westernized.
*[[Israel]]:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Arndt |first1=Richard T. |last2=Rubin |first2=David Lee |title=The Fulbright Difference: 1948-1992 |date=1993 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |isbn=978-1-4128-2424-8 |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LqMwKTUN7f0C&pg=PA53 }}</ref><ref name="Sheldon Kirshner">{{Cite web |last=Sheldon Kirshner |date=2013-10-16 |title=Is Israel Really a Western Nation? |url=http://sheldonkirshner.com/?p=1673 |access-date=2013-11-09 |publisher=Sheldon Kirshner Journal}}</ref> Although Israel is geographically located in [[Western Asia]], many Western cultural influences were brought in Israel by [[Aliyah|Jewish settlers]] from the [[Jewish diaspora|diaspora]], particularly countries like [[Canada]], [[France]], [[Germany]], the [[United Kingdom]], and the [[United States]]. It is a member of the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]]. It is often a member of European organisations for sports and cultural events such as [[UEFA]] and [[Eurovision Song Contest|Eurovision]], which is due in large part to Israel's ouster from their respective Asian counterparts. According to [[Sammy Smooha]], a professor emeritus of [[sociology]] at Haifa University, Israel is described as a "hybrid," a modern and developed "semi-Western" state. With time, he acknowledged, Israel will become "more and more Western." But as a result of the ongoing [[Arab–Israeli conflict]], full Westernization will be a slow process in Israel.<ref name="Sheldon Kirshner" />
*[[Japan]], [[South Korea]], and [[Taiwan]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Early Westernization & Modernization in Japan 1868-1900 &#124; Japan Experience |url=https://www.japanvisitor.com/japanese-culture/history/westernization}}</ref> Although they are geographically located in [[East Asia]], the three countries have westernized themselves by adopting democratic forms of government, free market economic systems, major contributions to Western science and technology, and could be described as "hybrid", "semi-Western" states. 
*[[Americas]]:<ref name="west">{{Cite book |last=Huntington, Samuel P. |url=https://archive.org/details/clashofcivilizat00hunt/page/38 |title=Clash of Civilizations |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-684-84441-1 |edition=6th |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=[https://archive.org/details/clashofcivilizat00hunt/page/38 38–39] |quote=The origin of western civilization is usually dated to 700 or 800 AD. In general, researchers consider that it has three main components, in Europe, North America and South america. [...] However, South America has followed a quite different development path from Europe and North America. Although it is a scion of European civilization, it also incorporates more elements of indigenous American civilizations compared to those of Northern America and Europe. It also currently has a more corporatist and authoritarian culture. Both Europe and Northern America felt the effects of Reformation and the combination of Catholic and Protestant cultures. Historically, many countries in the Americas has been only Catholic, although this may be changing. [...] the Americas could be considered, or a sub-set, within Western civilization, or can also be considered a separate civilization, intimately related to the West, but divided as to whether it belongs with it. |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Most countries in Americas are considered Western countries, largely because most of its peoples are descended from Europeans (Spanish and Portuguese settlers and later [[European immigration to the Americas|immigration from other European nations]]), and their society operates in a highly Westernized way. Most countries in the Americas use either [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[Spanish Language|Spanish]] or [[Portuguese Language|Portuguese]] as their official language. According to the ''CIA World Factbook'', there has also been considerable immigration to South America, particularly to [[Argentina]], [[Brazil]], [[Chile]], and [[Uruguay]], from European nations other than [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]] (for example, from [[Germany]], [[Italy]], the [[Netherlands]], etc.—see [[Immigration to Argentina]], [[Immigration to Brazil]], [[Immigration to Chile]], and [[Immigration to Uruguay]]).{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
*[[Lebanon]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lebanon at a Glance |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=23 January 1976 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/01/23/archives/lebanon-at-a-glance.html}}</ref> Geographically located in Western Asia, Lebanon is the most Westernized country in the Arab world. In ancient history, Lebanon was ruled by the [[Phoenicia under Hellenistic rule|Hellenistic]] and [[Phoenicia under Roman rule|Roman]] empires. Even though it was later ruled by the Caliphate, Lebanon has the highest proportion of Christians in the Arab world, and Christians have dominated the country politically, economically and culturally. Since it was historically a [[Greater Lebanon|French mandate]], France promotes French culture and European-style education in Lebanon. At that time, Beirut was known as the "Little Paris of the Middle East". Currently, French language is still widely spoken and Lebanon is a member of the Organization of [[la Francophonie]]. 
*[[Philippines]]:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heydarian |first=Richard |date=2015-01-12 |title=Philippines' Shallow Capitalism: Westernization Without Prosperity |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-javad-heydarian/philippines-shallow-capit_b_6441868.html |access-date=19 November 2016 |website=The Huffington Post}}</ref> Geographically located in [[Southeast Asia]], due to heavy influences of European (particularly [[Spain|Spanish]]) and [[United States|American]] cultures in [[Culture of the Philippines|Filipino culture]], the country is considered Westernized. Moreover, nearly 90% of the Filipino population practices Christianity.
*[[Turkey]]:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cagaptay |first1=Soner |title=The Rise of Turkey: The Twenty-First Century's First Muslim Power |date=2014 |publisher=Potomac Books |isbn=978-1-61234-651-9 |page=44 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V8vQAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA44 }}</ref> Although geographically only 3% of Turkey lies in [[Southeastern Europe|Europe]] ([[East Thrace]]) and the rest in [[Western Asia]], Turkey is one of the most Westernized Turkic countries. The country has a similar economic system, has a [[European Union–Turkey Customs Union|customs union]] with the [[European Union]] in addition to being an [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|official candidate for membership]], and is a member of traditional European & Western organisations such as the [[OECD]], the [[Council of Europe]], and [[NATO]]. It is also a member of European organisations for sports such as [[UEFA]] and the [[European Olympic Committees]], and has participated in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]]. Relations between Turkey and Western countries have been deteriorating since the 2010s.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}