What is the difference between the Western Bloc and Eastern Bloc?

The Western Bloc, primarily led by the United States and its NATO allies, represented capitalist democracies during the Cold War. In contrast, the Eastern Bloc, dominated by the Soviet Union and its satellite states, encompassed communist regimes. The two blocs were ideologically opposed, with the Western Bloc advocating for free markets and individual freedoms, while the Eastern Bloc focused on state control and collectivism. This division was a significant factor in global politics from the late 1940s until the early 1990s.