European cities are "western" cities and Asian cities are "eastern", what about Middle Eastern cities? (living, law)

[Bettafish]

Originally Posted by Forever96

I suspect East Asians think Western Culture is so great so they suck up to it. Not bashing East Asians but it seems they are obsessed by anything Western - its just my little observation though.

Not completely true. For example, the Chinese do not believe in "democracy", from government to people.
The Japanese and South Koreans also do not believe in "diversity", etc.
In addition to that, East Asians are not religious, more monogamous than otherwise, and value education. These things just fit in modern western culture better.
If Arabs and Iranians are not religious, they blend in westerners far better than Chinese etc. I know such an Iranian.

However it is true that they adopt more western values than Middle Easterners.

[Tall Traveler]

In parts, they are like Western, other parts like India, and other parts like a distinctive Middle Eastern. I'm currently in Kuwait City.

[Milky Way Resident]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

In parts, they are like Western, other parts like India, and other parts like a distinctive Middle Eastern. I'm currently in Kuwait City.

I think this is a fairly accurate description. many of the new cities exhibit modern planning found in North American cities, but a lot of older ones have an identity of their own.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Speaking as an Asian American of Chinese and Taiwanese descent, both the Far East and the Middle East are "east". As an American I even see Eastern Europe and Russia as not Western. I also don't think of Latin America as Western.

I do think that Hong Kong and Tokyo are actually more Westernized cities than places like Cairo, Gaza, Kabul, and Baghdad. The Middle East is its own thing but its "eastern". Neither Western nor Eastern would be cities like Moscow, Kiev, Mexico City, Guatemala City, Athens, etc.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by Ethereal

Now they are deemed as "eastern cities" in our textbooks and such, but it seems inappropriate for me. Because when I think of the east, I have eastern Asia in mind, not the Middle East. I mean, Lebanese people have now more in common, both genetically and culturally, with Thais than with Greeks and Maltese?

Istanbul is marked as the point where "East meets West". At first glance, this slogan made think it's a city that has European and eastern Asian culture.

Would you say Middle Eastern cities are "eastern", "western" or you have your own fancy title for them?

I think it depends on the city. For example in Israel, Tel Aviv is definitely considered a Western city. But I don't think all Middle Eastern cities can be considered Western.

[Ethereal]

Originally Posted by Chava61

I think it depends on the city. For example in Israel, Tel Aviv is definitely considered a Western city. But I don't think all Middle Eastern cities can be considered Western.

True. I would go as far as saying that Beirut is also, to an extent, a western city. Some cities in coastal Lebanon do give off a heavy Southern European vibe. Not to mention, many inhabitants in Lebanon are culturally Catholic, like the Italians. So, if anything, they're still far more "western" than "eastern".

[Selen]

Originally Posted by Ethereal

True. I would go as far as saying that Beirut is also, to an extent, a western city. Some cities in coastal Lebanon do give off a heavy Southern European vibe. Not to mention, many inhabitants in Lebanon are culturally Catholic, like the Italians. So, if anything, they're still far more "western" than "eastern".

Are you a middle eastern christian?

[SpringSnow]

This entire West/East dichotomy is entirely European made. And basically boils down, we(Europeans) are the West, everyone else is the East - anyways, before they knew about the 'New' world.

I'm not sure on the history but my guess is that Eastern Europe was not considered Western, hence why the Arab world is considered the middle east.

My own personal take on this is that cultures are not binary. In some respects, East Asian cultures share more similarity with European cultures than Middle Eastern ones. Those similarities are in terms of dating, romance, and position of the woman in society especially. In other respects when it comes to religion, position in society, manners, I say we (Europeans) have more in common with Middle Easterners. Genetically speaking, Middle Easterners are closer to us, if that counts for anything.

[DTL3000]

I think it's a little more complex than that. I think Far Eastern cities like Tokyo and Seoul are more "western" than a lot of cities much farther geographically to their west. Maybe that's because they were largely rebuilt/developed in the last half of the 20th century. For example, I think Istanbul is more "Eastern" as far as being different from European and American cities than the two I mentioned.

I think it most depends on when the city was built. Amman is way different from Dubai although they are both in the Middle East.

Cities like Tbilisi, Sarajevo, and perhaps Baku(hope to make it there soon) are very interesting to me because they blend east and west much like Istanbul.

[botticelli]

Originally Posted by Forever96

I suspect East Asians think Western Culture is so great so they suck up to it. Not bashing East Asians but it seems they are obsessed by anything Western - its just my little observation though.

mostly Asians who have never been to the west tend to think so.