Which best describes the difference between Western and Eastern Europe throughout the Cold War?

Answer 1

Notice that Eastern Europe IS NOT the same as Eastern Block, i.e. Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Hungary were part of Eastern Bloc (as communistic states) but have never been in Eastern Europe (but central one or in western cultural circle).

SO

Eastern Bloc: poverty, communism, lack of personal freedom, highly extended health care and education system, central planned economy (inefficient), subjection to USSR (obligatory under the thread of military intervention)

Western Europe: Richness, real democracy, freedom of speech and traveling, lower social expenses, capitalism, subjection to USA (freely).

Answer 2

Western Europe had a much stronger economy Eastern Europe fell into poverty.

More Eastern European countries became police states
Eastern Europe was communist while Western Europe was not.

Answer 3

Notice that Eastern Europe IS NOT the same as Eastern Block, i.e. Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Hungary were part of Eastern Bloc (as communistic states) but have never been in Eastern Europe (but central one or in western cultural circle).

SO

Eastern Bloc: poverty, communism, lack of personal freedom, highly extended health care and education system, central planned economy (inefficient), subjection to USSR (obligatory under the thread of military intervention)

Western Europe: Richness, real democracy, freedom of speech and traveling, lower social expenses, capitalism, subjection to USA (freely).

Answer 4

eastern Europe fell into poverty