Abstract

Flags and symbolism have always been present in modern movements. From the importance of symbolism in the rise of nations to the significance of flags seen in any recent movement, flags and symbolism has always been at the forefront of any movement in order to connect people under a shared belief. The two work hand in hand, with flags used as an effective form of symbolism. While symbolism has been researched in depth, there has been a gap in research regarding flags to symbolize movements. 

            We have seen some of the most important movements in modern times where an  individual nation expels Communism in Eastern Europe. These movements have not shied away from using flags to help bolster their campaigns. One of the most prominent cases of this is seen in Romania as the Revolutionary War of 1989 was bolstered by the symbolic cutting out of the Communist symbol in the middle of the flag. The flag, with a hole in the middle, was one of the most prominent symbols used to help expel Communism from this specific country in the Eastern Bloc. The research on this topic is minimal, and this thesis will seek to fill in any gaps that might have been present in previous research. 

            The expulsion of Communism in Eastern Europe came before the fall of the Soviet Union. Still, it became a catalyst in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as more and more nations seemed to have gotten rid of their Communist regimes. This left a lot of room for these countries to form their new symbols and to do everything in their power to get rid of the Socialist government to establish a democratic government. 

            The First section of this article will provide historical context to present a basic understanding of how important symbolism was for Communist nations, especially in places such as the Soviet Union and Romania. The impact of Leninist teachings, and the creation of Communist states, sought to establish a consistent set of symbols to help the average citizen, the proletariat, to understand the significance of establishing a Soviet society to achieve Communism. 

            The second section of this article will explain why certain symbols were chosen for the Soviet communities and establish what symbols were present in these Communist nations. This starts with the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 Russia and their commitment to connecting the illiterate classes with the literate classes and forming one united type of people in a classless society

            The third section of this article will show how symbolism was used against the Communist regimes in the late 1980s and early 1990s to drive out the ruling class and establish a new, democratic society. This part will focus on the Romanian usage of symbols to collect a group of people against the government, which they will eventually overthrow. The characters came from a collection of established Soviet symbols, such as the Communist “Red Star” and the “Hammer and Sickle” imagery, as well as Romanian symbols, such as the Romanian coat of arms that was found in the middle of the Romanian flag during the Communist regime. These symbols, at least those established previously from the Soviet Union, went from original ideas of pride, obedience, and conformity, to different feelings such as hatred, disobedience, and nonconformance.