Which aspect of post-World War II Europe did the "Iron Curtain" notably highlight?

The phrase "Iron Curtain," popularized by Winston Churchill in his famous speech in 1946, notably symbolizes the ideological divide between Eastern and Western Europe after World War II. This division emerged primarily from the differing political ideologies and governance structures that took hold after the war, with Eastern Europe largely falling under Soviet influence and adopting communist regimes, while Western Europe experienced the establishment of democratic governments.

The term effectively depicted how this ideological divide separated not only physical territories but also societal values, economic systems, and cultural orientations. The "Iron Curtain" thus served as a metaphor for the stark contrast between the Soviet bloc, characterized by authoritarianism and state-controlled economies, and the capitalist democracies in the West, which promoted individual freedoms and free enterprise.

While factors like the rise of democracy and economic prosperity were indeed significant in the broader context of post-war Europe, they did not encapsulate the central theme depicted by the "Iron Curtain." Moreover, the concept does not reflect a unification of nations but instead highlights the disunity and tension that characterized Europe during the early Cold War period.