You're confusing cause and effect. The West is defined by embracing enlightenment values, democracy, and capitalism. The "East" is defined as those powers that embraced authoritarian rule and communism.
For a while there was legit economic competition, Soviet GDP outpaced the US for a time in the 50s, but eventually the economies of scale and efficiency produced by the capitalist West out-competed the Soviets and won the Cold War.
quonn|3 years ago
Poland, for example, is not as rich as China, yet Poland is part of the west and China is not. And there are many examples like that.
throw2311|3 years ago
scottLobster|3 years ago
For a while there was legit economic competition, Soviet GDP outpaced the US for a time in the 50s, but eventually the economies of scale and efficiency produced by the capitalist West out-competed the Soviets and won the Cold War.
Saudi Arabia is rich, it is not "Western"