Very common in post-Soviet countries. The US is often referred to as the "West" and so is Western Europe. This refers to both the freedom and a certain mentality ("mentalitet" in Russian). Never heard this framing in the US, though.

It was more common in the past. In 2002 the cold war had ended only 11 years prior. Now we are 30 years out.

Same as how back then you could say “in the war” and people knew you meant WWII, but nowaways youth may give you a confused look.

But yes at least in Canada we used to use the east/west framing, and in respect of russia. In 2002 they were the more prominent power compared to China. That situation has heavily reversed.

Yes. Once while touring a space museum in Switzerland I was reading the placards about the Russian and US space programs. Yuri Gagarin was consistently referred to as "the communist" which seemed perfectly normal to me as an American. Then I saw one that referred to John Glenn as "the capitalist" which was a novel concept to my brain. It wasn't until that moment that I realized just how ridiculous it was for us to refer to random Russians as communists, these were both seasoned military men who had nothing to do with either ideology other than the fact that their governments were pushing these things.

Also, the "winning side" is allowed the freedom to move forwards and forget the past quicker. As a Yankee we don't think much about the US civil war. The deeper a northerner goes into the south the more you are reminded that their side did not win the civil war, they remember that shit, and you better be careful what you say about it less you get run out of town.

[edit spelling; I had double checked myself but still fucked it up]