‘Hostile Take-Over’: A Political History of the Red Flag
Socialist History - ISSN 0969-4331
Volume 2021 Number 59
‘Hostile Take-Over’: A Political History of the Red Flag
Hanno Balz pages 8‑30
Abstract
Today, no one would doubt that the colour red and the red flag symbolise socialism, communism and revolution. However, that we all agree on these symbolic qualities is a rather recent historical phenomenon, since for thousands of years the colour red (and even more so: purple) had been reserved for the ruling elites or members of the clergy in different parts of the world. This article examines how the red flag emerged as a revolutionary symbol, with particular attention given to the transcultural transfer of knowledge and argues that this eventually became a fierce struggle for recognition.
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To cite this article
Hanno Balz (2021) ‘Hostile Take-Over’: A Political History of the Red Flag, Socialist History, 2021(59), 8-30