eastern section of Europe (much of which was formerly part of the Soviet Union)
Eastern Europe is a socio-political concept mainly influenced by the
Cold War, which largely defined its borders. Its boundaries were effectively forged in the final stages of
World War II and came to encompass all European countries which came under Soviet influence and control. As such these countries had
communist regimes imposed upon them and
neutral countries were classified by the nature of their political regimes.
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