The West is an ideological, historical, economic and geographical concept, the meaning of which has shifted over time. The term represents both a mental and physical division of the world that categorizes and contrasts people, cultures, religions and regions, placing them in a hierarchy. It is often contrasted with “niet-Westers” (not Western). Other terms with similar connotations include “Third World” (see also “Third World”), “developed”/”undeveloped,” etc.