Flags are some of the most recognizable symbols in human history, representing everything from national pride and allegiance to corporate brands, social movements, and sports teams. Rooted in ancient traditions, flags have long been used to signify identity, mark territory, inspire loyalty, and, in many cases, create divisions. Although these symbols can unite people under shared ideals, they are also powerful tools for manipulating public perception, simplifying complex identities, and fostering an “us versus them” mentality. The story of flags is one of both triumph and contradiction—illustrating the heights of human solidarity and the depths of our tribal instincts.

The origins of flags can be traced to ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and Egypt, where leaders used standards—often religious emblems mounted on poles—to communicate allegiance to a deity or kingdom. These early symbols helped organize societies and convey messages over long distances, providing a visible marker of unity in military or religious contexts. Roman legions carried standards like the aquila, or eagle, which served as a rallying symbol of pride and honor. In China, dragon banners symbolized imperial power, signaling the emperor’s dominion over vast regions. These early uses of symbols established a framework for flags as tools to organize and control, evolving over centuries from religious and military symbols to emblems of family heritage, nationhood, and ideological allegiance.

With the development of cloth flags in the medieval period, these symbols became more accessible, easier to produce, and more versatile. Heraldic flags allowed noble families to convey their lineage, status, and values through colors, shapes, and symbols. Knights used these flags on shields, armor, and tents, as a way to establish identity on the battlefield. During the Crusades, flags marked with crosses became rallying points for religious unity, simplifying and visually communicating the deeply-held convictions of Christian soldiers. These banners fostered a shared identity among people who might otherwise have little in common, illustrating flags’ unique capacity to distill complex ideas and values into simple, instantly recognizable symbols. Yet even then, flags began to serve a double purpose: while they fostered unity within groups, they also created a distinct separation from others. The cross-emblazoned flags of the Crusaders, for example, symbolized not only Christian devotion but also an implicit, and sometimes explicit, antagonism toward those deemed outsiders.

The concept of using flags as markers of territorial claims and national identity came into its own during the Age of Exploration. Explorers and colonial powers used flags to “claim” lands by physically planting their banners in new territories, often disregarding the cultures and rights of indigenous inhabitants. The act of placing a flag in foreign soil became a gesture of symbolic conquest, an assertion of one nation’s dominance over another. When Christopher Columbus reached the Americas, he claimed territories by planting the Spanish flag, and this act became a standard for European explorers worldwide. This practice marked an important shift in the meaning of flags, from symbols of group identity to assertions of ownership and control over lands and people. While such gestures promoted a collective national identity, they often legitimized exploitation, conflict, and colonial dominance.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, the modern concept of national flags emerged, becoming an intrinsic part of how nations defined themselves and interacted with others. The American Revolution brought the Stars and Stripes, symbolizing unity and the revolutionary ideals of independence, while the French Revolution gave rise to the Tricolore, a flag symbolizing the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. These flags represented collective aspirations, rallying diverse groups under a shared identity, often in defiance of monarchy and authoritarian rule. But these symbols of unity and freedom also introduced new divisions. The concept of national flags solidified the notion of separate, competing entities, encouraging loyalty to one’s nation at the potential expense of empathy toward others. As historian Benedict Anderson observed in Imagined Communities, national symbols, including flags, foster a sense of identity among people who may never meet, binding them into a single, “imagined” community. Yet, this shared identity can be exclusionary, creating distinctions between those who belong and those who do not.

The emotional power of flags is profound and often primal, tapping into deep-seated human instincts for group identity and belonging. Psychologist Carl Jung explored the power of symbols to influence the collective psyche, observing that such emblems can evoke subconscious, often irrational loyalty. Flags, with their simple, bold designs, bypass logical thought to appeal directly to emotions, inspiring pride, loyalty, and even aggression. Henri Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory suggests that humans naturally categorize themselves into groups, deriving part of their identity from group affiliation. Flags play directly into this inclination by offering a clear visual representation of group identity, reinforcing loyalty within the group while often fostering disdain or even hostility toward outsiders. This effect is particularly visible in the sporting world, where fans rally around team flags, turning them into objects of devotion and tribal allegiance, which can sometimes escalate into conflict.

Flags’ simplicity, while emotionally potent, can also reduce complex identities to overly simplistic representations. A flag’s colors and symbols may speak to a national or cultural identity, but they seldom capture the full spectrum of human experience within a given community. This symbolic reduction can lead to an “us versus them” mentality, where flags serve as divisive emblems rather than unifying ones. In many ways, flags perpetuate an ancient, tribal view of the world that may no longer fit our interconnected society. When a national flag becomes a symbol of exclusivity, it can obscure the diversity within a population, suggesting a homogeneity that may alienate or overlook minority voices and alternative viewpoints.

Governments and organizations have long recognized flags’ potential as propaganda tools. In times of war, flags are essential for inspiring patriotism and rallying citizens behind a cause. During World War II, the swastika flag became synonymous with Nazi ideology, symbolizing both national pride and terror. Through propaganda, the flag cultivated loyalty among Germans while marking Jewish and other targeted groups as “others” to be feared and ostracized. George Orwell, in Notes on Nationalism, described how national symbols like flags can convince people to support causes and suffer sacrifices without fully understanding the reasons behind them. In such cases, flags serve to unite people under a specific agenda, one that often demands blind loyalty rather than informed participation.

In the United States, the flag is frequently invoked as a symbol of national pride, especially in times of crisis. Following the 9/11 attacks, American flags appeared everywhere, signaling unity and resilience. Yet, they also encouraged a binary “with us or against us” mindset that, for some, translated into suspicion and alienation of those perceived as “other.” Politicians and media alike used the flag to rally support for military actions abroad, a tactic that critics argue oversimplified complex international dynamics and encouraged patriotism at the expense of global empathy.

Flags are not limited to national contexts; they appear in corporate branding, social movements, and cultural settings. A corporation’s logo on a flag can symbolize its presence and power, reinforcing brand loyalty and influence over public spaces. Social movements have also adopted flags to communicate their values and build visibility. The rainbow flag, for example, is a powerful symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, fostering a sense of belonging for the LGBTQ+ community while also marking a clear stance on equality and rights. However, just as with national flags, these symbols can create divisions. Those who oppose or misunderstand the movements may view these flags as provocations or threats, leading to increased polarization. Similarly, flags in protest settings, like the red flag of socialism or the black flag of anarchism, represent ideologies that can unify followers but also sharply divide them from those who disagree.

Flags’ role in protest and resistance demonstrates their power to both unify and challenge. For centuries, marginalized groups have raised flags as symbols of defiance, as seen with the black power flag or the Tibetan flag representing resistance to Chinese control. These flags are emblems of struggle and resilience, inspiring those who rally behind them. Yet, in some instances, flags in protests can oversimplify complex grievances, reducing broad social issues to slogans or emblems that may overlook nuances. Burning an opposing group’s flag, for instance, is a common gesture in protests, one intended to symbolize rejection or condemnation. However, such acts also underscore the divisive nature of flags, as the symbol becomes an object of contempt, cementing divisions between groups rather than promoting dialogue or understanding.

For all their symbolic power, flags may ultimately be limited by their simplicity, capturing only a fraction of the diversity within the populations they represent. As societies become more interconnected and complex, flags’ rigid symbolism can feel constraining or even outdated. The binary representation of identities may serve to foster an “us versus them” mentality in a world where cooperation and understanding are increasingly crucial. Flags remain powerful, but they are also relics of a more tribal time, when societies were isolated, defensive, and less interconnected. In today’s world, where collective challenges demand unity and cooperation, flags may sometimes hinder as much as they help.

Flags are paradoxical symbols. They inspire unity and loyalty, yet they often foster division. They serve as powerful visual shorthand for complex identities, but in doing so, they may oversimplify or obscure deeper truths. While flags continue to play an essential role in shaping identity and conveying solidarity, they also perpetuate a primitive, divisive form of allegiance that may no longer suit the needs of our modern, interconnected world. The challenge for future generations may lie in retaining the positive aspects of flags—their ability to inspire pride and connection—without letting them become barriers to understanding and cooperation across borders and ideologies. Flags will likely endure, but understanding their limitations may be key to evolving beyond the boundaries they sometimes represent.