The West concept provides the comparative standard ranking non-Western societies

Evidence

Third, it provides a standard or model of comparison. It allows us to compare to what extent different societies resemble, or differ from, one another. Non-Western societies can accordingly be said to be “close to” or “far away from” or “catching up with” the West. It helps to explain difference. — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2, 511

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the comparative/evaluative function at the core of developmentalist discourse.
• XREF: ‘Catching up with’ is the developmentalist-modernization framework the Islamophobia literature critiques.