What is world literature?

World literature is writing/literature that is created for a world audience, rather than a small localized place, such as a city or state. The system of literature is distinguished by institutions of literature, and is largely dominated by works of Western European origin, and usually in English. The novel has now become a world phenomenon, appearing and proliferating in places where it does not have a cultural tradition. That being said, the system of world literature is unequal, as defined by the dominance of English and Western Europe, where the novel and most prestigious literary institutions were created. When the novel appears in places where they are not the native genre, per se, it is interesting to note the influence that "traditional literary culture" has on it (such as Britain, France, Germany, America, etc...). Even within literature, there is a power struggle of sorts, of unsaid influences and the hidden power struggle to be completely original while attaining a larger audience.