I should hope the definitions are different. Netherlands and the BeNeLux area is perhaps the MOST civilized country on the planet. Why?
1) Inventors of the Stock Market, Amsterdam (nuf said)
2) While the rest of Europe was killing each other over land grabs, the Dutch were engineering new and better ways to get more land from the Ocean without killing their neighbors to steal their land.
3) They treat adults like adults rather than pretending only a government can be the adult.
4) Center for international justice, Den Haag.
5) Best Cheese on the planet.
6) Best Beer on the planet.
vriendelijke groeten!

Given that you are accustomed to Dutch civilization, I can see why US and Arab areas both seem uncivilized, but I would maintain that the US brand of civilization is still at least one rung up on that ladder.