Proper noun

Singular Eastern Europe

Plural -

Eastern Europe

1. A socio-politic geographical area of eastern Europe usually including the European countries to the east of the Czech Republic, Poland and the Balkans, and to the west of the Urals.

Eastern Europe is an ancient term given redefinition in modern commentary post-World War II that some now claim is outdated and useless — in the simplest geographical sense, it refers to geographical regions in Europe east and southeast of Germany; In meanings encompassing political or economic overtones, the term is one that applies to the geopolitical region encompassing the eastern part of the European continent, which until recently were dominated by the now defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Although the term Eastern Europe was largely defined during the Cold War, and used more or less synonymously with Eastern Bloc and Second World, it still remains much in use. However, two decades after the demolition of the Iron Curtain, many feel that the term is becoming increasingly outdated due to its Cold War era connotations that suggest alienating stereotypes of Soviet-style economic, political and cultural development. In fact, as of the 2000's, multiple Eastern European countries are listed among the world's 30 most developed countries, while in Western (and especially American) popular culture, the region is still erroneously associated with Cold War era "backwardness".