The geographical and cultural landscape of Europe is complex, marked by historical, political, and social currents that have shaped distinct regions. While the physical Iron Curtain may have dissolved, a figurative divide persists, particularly in public attitudes towards religion, minorities, and social issues. Understanding this divide requires exploring not only the abstract concept of “East” versus “West” but also the specific location of countries like Georgia and how they fit into this continental puzzle.
This article delves into the contrasting values and attitudes across Europe, using data from Pew Research Center surveys conducted between 2015 and 2017. We will examine where Georgia is located not just on a map, but within this spectrum of European perspectives, comparing it to other places across the continent and considering the broader global context.
Defining East and West: More Than Just Geography
The terms “Eastern Europe” and “Western Europe” are more than just compass directions; they represent a complex interplay of historical experiences, cultural influences, and societal norms. While geographical location is a starting point, the categorization is nuanced and sometimes debated. However, when examining attitudes on religion, national identity, minorities, and social issues, clear geographical patterns emerge, particularly when contrasting countries historically associated with Eastern versus Western Europe.
Georgia, for instance, geographically sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, in the Caucasus region. Often considered part of Eastern Europe due to historical and cultural factors, Georgia shares borders with countries that straddle both continents. Its location is pivotal in understanding its unique position within the broader European context and when compared with places further west or even in other continents.
The original article from Pew Research categorizes Georgia within Central and Eastern Europe, acknowledging that while geographically closer to Asia, its public attitudes on key issues align more with Eastern European patterns than Western ones. This categorization is crucial for our comparison, as it highlights that “location” in this context is not solely about latitude and longitude but also about shared historical and cultural experiences that shape societal values.
The Stark Divide: Attitudes Towards Minorities
One of the most significant indicators of the East-West divide in Europe is the difference in attitudes towards religious and ethnic minorities. The surveys reveal a stark contrast in the willingness to accept Muslims and Jews into families and neighborhoods.
In almost every Central and Eastern European country surveyed, including Georgia, fewer than half of adults expressed willingness to accept Muslims into their family. This stands in sharp contrast to Western European countries, where in nearly every nation polled, more than half indicated they would accept a Muslim family member. A similar, though sometimes less extreme, divide exists regarding the acceptance of Jews.
For example, when comparing Georgia to countries in Western Europe like France or Germany, the difference in acceptance levels is considerable. While specific data for Georgia’s acceptance of Muslims into families is highlighted within the broader Eastern European trend, the overall pattern places Georgia firmly on the Eastern side of this attitudinal divide. This geographical “location” in terms of values is more telling than its physical coordinates alone.
Furthermore, the survey also explored acceptance of Muslims in neighborhoods. Western Europeans consistently showed higher levels of acceptance compared to their Central and Eastern European counterparts. While the gap is less pronounced than family acceptance, it reinforces the East-West pattern. For instance, countries like Finland show significantly higher rates of Muslim neighbor acceptance compared to Ukraine, highlighting the spectrum within Europe. Georgia, again, would likely align closer to Ukraine in this comparison, further solidifying its position within the Eastern European attitudinal landscape.
Religion and National Identity: An Eastern Emphasis
The concept of national identity also reveals a crucial difference between Eastern and Western Europe, and Georgia’s location within this framework is significant. In many Central and Eastern European countries, including Georgia, there’s a strong link between religious identity, particularly Christianity (Orthodoxy in Georgia’s case), and national identity.
For many in the former Eastern bloc, being Christian is considered an important component of their national identity. This contrasts sharply with Western Europe, where religion is generally not seen as a major defining factor of national identity. In countries like France or the United Kingdom, being Christian is not considered essential to being truly French or British.
Georgia, with its strong Orthodox Christian tradition, exemplifies this Eastern European trend. While the specific percentage of Georgians who see Orthodoxy as crucial to their national identity is not explicitly detailed in this excerpt, the general trend for Eastern Europe, and the inclusion of Georgia in this category, suggests a higher emphasis on this connection compared to Western European nations. This reinforces Georgia’s cultural and attitudinal location as distinct from places further west on the continent.
This intertwining of religion and national identity in Eastern Europe can be traced back to historical experiences, including periods under Soviet influence where religion was officially suppressed but remained a vital part of cultural identity. In the post-Soviet era, for many Eastern European nations, including Georgia, religion has re-emerged as a significant marker of national belonging and cultural distinctiveness, further differentiating them from the more secularized West.
Cultural Chauvinism: Eastward Leaning
Another dimension of the East-West divide explored in the research is cultural chauvinism, measured by agreement with the statement: “Our people are not perfect, but our culture is superior to others.” The surveys revealed that Central and Eastern Europeans are more inclined to express this sentiment compared to Western Europeans.
Notably, the eight countries where this attitude is most prevalent are all geographically located in the East, including Georgia. This places Georgia alongside countries like Greece, Armenia, and Russia in exhibiting higher levels of cultural chauvinism compared to Western European nations.
This finding further solidifies Georgia’s location within the Eastern European value system. While cultural pride is universal, the survey highlights a tendency in Eastern Europe to view their own culture as superior to others, a perspective less commonly found in Western European countries. This difference can be linked to various factors, including historical narratives, national identity formation, and perhaps a reaction to perceived Western cultural dominance.
Diverging Views on Social Issues: Same-Sex Marriage and Abortion
The East-West divide extends to key social issues such as same-sex marriage and legal abortion, with Georgia again aligning more closely with Eastern European trends.
On same-sex marriage, a significant chasm exists. Majorities in every Western European country surveyed favor legalization, and most have already legalized it. In stark contrast, majorities in nearly all Central and Eastern European countries surveyed oppose legalizing same-sex marriage. None of the Central and Eastern European countries in the survey permit same-sex marriage.
Georgia, consistent with the Eastern European pattern, is likely to exhibit strong opposition to same-sex marriage. While specific data for Georgia on this issue within this report isn’t provided, the overwhelming trend in Eastern Europe and Georgia’s categorization within it strongly suggest this alignment. Comparing Georgia to countries like the Netherlands, where support for same-sex marriage is exceptionally high, underscores the vast difference in social values across the continent.
Regarding abortion, while it is generally legal in both regions, views are more varied in Central and Eastern Europe compared to the relative uniformity of support for legal abortion in Western Europe. Every Western European nation surveyed shows majority support for legal abortion in all or most cases. In the East, opinion is more divided, with some countries favoring legal abortion while others lean towards stricter restrictions.
While the original article doesn’t provide specific abortion views for Georgia, its placement within Eastern Europe suggests a potentially more divided or conservative stance compared to the strong pro-choice sentiment prevalent in Western Europe. This further illustrates how Georgia’s “location” within the European value spectrum extends to social policies and individual liberties.
Generational Divide: Persistence in the East
Interestingly, the survey data suggests that the East-West divide in values may persist into the future. While generational differences exist in both regions, they are less pronounced in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly on issues like same-sex marriage and acceptance of minorities.
In Western Europe, younger adults are generally more liberal than older generations on these social issues. However, in Central and Eastern Europe, younger adults often hold views that are not significantly different from their elders, and are considerably more conservative than young adults in Western Europe.
For example, even young adults in Estonia are significantly more likely to oppose same-sex marriage than older adults in Denmark. Similarly, when it comes to acceptance of Muslims and Jews, young adults in most Central and Eastern European countries are no more accepting than older generations.
This generational consistency in Eastern Europe, likely including Georgia, suggests that the value differences between East and West are deeply rooted and may not easily dissipate with generational change. This contrasts with Western Europe, where evolving social norms are more readily embraced by younger generations, widening the gap between the two regions over time.
Conclusion: Georgia’s Place in a Divided Continent
Where is Georgia located compared to other places in continents? Geographically, Georgia sits at the edge of Europe, bordering Asia. However, in the context of European values and attitudes, Georgia is firmly located within the “Eastern” sphere of influence. Surveys consistently reveal that on issues ranging from acceptance of minorities to social values and national identity, Georgia, along with much of Central and Eastern Europe, holds significantly different perspectives compared to Western European nations.
This “location” is not merely a matter of lines on a map, but a reflection of distinct historical paths, cultural influences, and societal norms that continue to shape public opinion. While Europe is a continent striving for unity, these underlying value differences represent a real and persistent divide. Understanding where countries like Georgia stand within this divide is crucial for navigating the complex and multifaceted landscape of contemporary Europe and its place in the world.
